Who may petition for a change of employee-selected physician?

• A. The workers' compensation appeals board
• B. The director of industrial relations
• C. The industrial medical council
• D. The administrative director

Answer: (D)

The ability to petition for a change of the employee-selected physician rests with the Administrative Director. In California’s workers’ compensation framework, the Administrative Director is the official empowered to review and decide petitions to change a treating physician when there’s a need to ensure appropriate medical care. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board handles appeals on claims and compensation issues, not physician-change petitions. The Director of Industrial Relations is a policy head, not the decision-maker for medical-treatment changes. The Industrial Medical Council provides medical guidance but does not issue orders on changing an employee’s physician. Therefore, the Administrative Director is the correct authority to handle such petitions.