Re: Q.M.E. & Expert Medical Witness for defense lied BIG.

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The QME I went to did the same exact thing. I have a c4-c5
fusion.

On 5/07/07, Scott Douglas MacLachlan wrote:
> Advice to those selecting a Q.M.E., DO YOUR RESEARCH!
> After a debilitating spinal injury, I was informed by a
> W.C. atty. that due to Arnold's SB-899 & a previous lumbar
> discectomy, "there was not enough money in it for either
> of us", and to apply for Soc. Security disability, ASAP
> and "go the Q.M.E. route".
> Provided with a choice of 3, (finding after truly shocking
> Q.M.E. Report) I had selected a state appointed Qualified
> Medical Evaluator who also charges insurance companies up
> to $8,000 per day to testify on behalf of insurance
> companies in personal injury jury trials.
> Though in exam this physician informed me of a new injury
> (not present in 11 month old MRI), and stated I needed a
> spinal fusion, later corroborated by 3 other surgeons.
> BUT, his report buries the new condition as pre-existing,
> fails to mention need for fusion, and paints me as being
> the "picture of health", (contradicting 25+ records he
> added to his own report of untreated severe ankle &
> shoulder injuries from other physician's,) effectively
> destroying any chance at Soc. Security benefits.
> Five months after injury, my right leg began to collapse,
> recently my left, and right ankle is completely numb.
> Amongst many, many other malicious misreporting, this
> Q.M.E. completely ignored a WCAB judge's instructions to
> provide a rebuttal to a Court ordered second opinion, who
> found me in need of a 2 level lumbar fusion, as well
> as “Temp. Total Disabled”, unlike the first Q.M.E. He was
> also admonished by the Dept. of Industrial Relations
> Medical Unit (who appointed and recently investigated this
> physician) for procedural misconduct in arriving at his
> opinion that I was not a qualified injured worker.
> Lawyers don't see this as a slam-dunk, so I'm screwed.
> BUT my word to the wise, select your Q.M.E. with care!
>
> Am co-producing an investigative documentary regarding
> such “Conflict Of Interest”, and medical/insurance
> corruption and am currently seeking (explained in less
> than two pages) from other people with their own W.C. &
> Q.M.E. stories for the film.
> I may request documentation to back-up certain story
> points, but will be handled with the utmost discretion. I
> know the pain of reliving your experience by retelling you
> story again, and again, but your contribution may make a
> difference for us, as well as others like us in the
> future. laaxe@yahoo.com
> Thank you, Scott MacLachlan