When would an IW be justified for missing or refusing to attend a medical exam arranged by his ER?

• A. Do nothing
• B. File a Petition to Suspend Benefits
• C. Seek a hearing
• D. Reassign the case to another physician

Answer: (B)

In workers’ compensation, failing to attend an employer-ordered medical examination is treated as noncompliance with a medical-exam requirement. The proper way to address this is to file a Petition to Suspend Benefits with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. This petition initiates a hearing to determine whether the suspension is justified and for how long, while also protecting the injured worker’s rights. This is the mechanism that enforces attendance and keeps due process intact. Reassigning the case to another physician or doing nothing wouldn’t directly compel attendance or trigger the suspension remedy, and seeking a hearing without the suspension procedure wouldn’t address the nonattendance itself.