Posted by Scott Douglas MacLachlan on 5/07/07

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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

Re: Q.M.E. & Expert Medical Witness for defense lied BIG., 12/18/08, by clayton.

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