Can an employee bring his personal physician to a medical exam requested by the ER, and who bears the fees?

• A. Yes, but he is responsible for the fees.
• B. Yes, and the ER must pay the fees.
• C. No, not allowed.
• D. Only with prior approval.

Answer: (A)

Allowing a personal physician to attend an exam requested by the ER is permitted. The employee can have their own physician present to observe or participate in the evaluation, but the fees for that personal physician are the employee’s responsibility. The ER (or the SIP) covers the cost of the exam conducted by its own examiner or the employer’s chosen provider; any additional physician brought by the employee is not automatically paid for by the ER. In many cases, there’s no requirement for prior approval to bring the personal physician, though you should be prepared to handle the associated fees yourself.