At some point in a medical malpractice case, the defense may ask for an independent medical examination (IME). It is not a treatment. It is not neutral in the way most people expect. The purpose is to evaluate your condition through the lens of the opposing side.
The impact of independent medical exams in a St. Louis medical malpractice case depends on how you handle that evaluation. At Zevan Murphy, LLC, a medical malpractice attorney approaches these exams with a clear understanding of their role in litigation, both medically and strategically. Our attorneys have a reputation in the medical malpractice community for building cases that hold up under scrutiny, and that approach carries through to how we prepare for and challenge IMEs.
The defense requests an independent medical examination (IME), typically after you file a lawsuit.
In medical malpractice IME evaluations, the opposing party selects and pays for the physician conducting the exam. The goal is not to provide care. It is to generate an opinion about your condition, your treatment, and whether your injuries are consistent with the claims being made.
The defense can later use that opinion in reports, depositions, or trial testimony. The language in the IME report in a St. Louis medical malpractice case, such as how symptoms are described or how causation is framed, can influence how insurers, defense counsel, and potentially a jury evaluate the case.
The IME often becomes one of the most cited pieces of defense evidence. During independent medical exam reviews, the defense may use the IME to impact your medical malpractice case in St. Louis by arguing that your condition is less severe, unrelated to the alleged malpractice, or attributable to a preexisting issue. Even subtle wording, such as “inconsistent presentation” or “subjective complaints,” can undermine credibility.
The exam itself is usually brief; the report is not. What appears in that report may shape settlement discussions and litigation strategy moving forward.
At Zevan Murphy, LLC, we treat the IME as a strategic event rather than a routine appointment.
In malpractice cases, our attorneys prepare you for what to expect, including the types of questions that may be asked and how the exam is typically conducted. We review your medical history and prior records so your presentation remains consistent with the documented timeline.
We will also evaluate the IME report and its potential impact on your medical malpractice case in St. Louis once we receive it. If there are inconsistencies, unsupported conclusions, or deviations from accepted medical standards, we can address those issues through expert review, deposition, or cross-examination.
The impact of independent medical exams in a St. Louis medical malpractice case is not limited to the day of the exam. It extends into how your claim is presented in legal proceedings, and evaluated and challenged throughout litigation.
Zevan Murphy, LLC, approaches these cases with a level of preparation that reflects our standing in the medical malpractice field. Defense attorneys recognize that we build our cases with attention to medical detail and trial readiness from the outset. Before attending an IME, it is worth reviewing your records, understanding how the exam will be used, and preparing accordingly. Contact Zevan Murphy, LLC today to schedule a consultation and discuss how to approach this stage of your case.