Attending a Medicolegal Appointment

Prepare for your Assessment

As part of your legal claim, you will be required to attend a medicolegal assessment. This appointment is essential for evaluating the injury you have sustained and determining how it impacts your daily life. The purpose of this assessment is to gather expert medical evidence that can support your claim by confirming the nature, severity, and consequences of your injury. Typically, this evidence is obtained through a comprehensive report written by a qualified doctor or healthcare professional.

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The Medicolegal Appointment

To prepare this report, the doctor will need to review relevant documents and conduct a physical examination during your medicolegal appointment. You will be scheduled to attend this appointment at the doctor or healthcare professional’s office. In addition, the opposing party in your case may also require an expert report on the same issues, and you will be obligated to attend a similar appointment arranged by their legal representatives. 

The doctor or healthcare professional chosen to conduct your assessment specialises in the field related to your injury. They have been selected based on their qualifications and their agreement to evaluate you and provide a written report.

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What Should You Bring to the Appointment?

In most cases, the doctor or healthcare professional will already have the necessary information, provided by your legal team.

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The assessment typically lasts between 1 to 3 hours. Other than a working computer or ipad with a camera, you will require a pen and paper on the day.

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Please note that phones are not sufficient for the assessments. 

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Please ensure you are set up in a private and quiet location where you can fully concentrate on the assessment and minimise all distractions. Please note that if you are in a location where we are unable to conduct the assessment, such as being seated in your car, we may be required to reschedule your appointment. 

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You are able to have a support person attend the assessment with you, should you require one.

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What Happens During the Appointment?

Your medico-legal appointment will closely resemble a standard medical consultation. However, the key difference is that the doctor or healthcare professional is not there to offer treatment or advice. Instead, they are solely focused on assessing your condition for the purposes of the legal proceedings.

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The doctor or healthcare professional will have been provided with details of your claim and medical history prior to the appointment. During the assessment, they will likely:

• Obtain a detailed history relevant to your injury

• Ask questions about the injury and any treatment received

• Conduct specified testing

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Cancellations 

It is crucial that you attend the appointment as scheduled. Cancellation or non-attendance can result in cancellation fees. Should you fail to attend, you will be required to cover any costs incurred. Additionally, ensure that you arrive on time.

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Is the Appointment Confidential?

Unlike typical medical appointments, a medicolegal assessment is not confidential in the usual sense. The information you provide, along with the doctor or healthcare professional’s findings and opinions, will be included in a report shared with all legal parties for use in your case.

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What Happens to the Report?

The report will be released directly to the party who requested it, and they may provide you with a copy. Please note that it can take 4 to 6 weeks after the appointment for the report to be finalised.

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