Miss this appointment, say the wrong thing, or assume the doctor is there to help treat you, and your wage benefits or medical coverage can be cut off fast. An independent medical exam, often called an IME, is a medical evaluation requested by an insurance company, employer, court, or agency to get an outside opinion about an injury, its cause, work restrictions, needed treatment, or whether a person has reached maximum medical improvement. Despite the name, the doctor is usually not your treating physician and may be chosen by the other side.

That matters because the IME report can shape whether your injury is accepted, whether you stay on temporary total disability, and whether future care gets approved. In a work injury case, the examiner may question whether the accident caused your condition, whether you can return to work, or whether you need surgery, therapy, or medication. A short exam can end up carrying a lot of weight.

In Virginia workers' compensation cases, disputes over IMEs often land before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. Under Virginia Code § 65.2-607 (2024), an injured worker may be required to attend a medical examination at a reasonable time and place. Skip it without a strong reason, arrive late because of I-66 or I-495 traffic, or treat it casually, and the insurer may argue for suspension of benefits. Keep records, follow instructions, and talk to a lawyer quickly if the exam is being used against your claim.