What is an Independent Medical Examination (IME)?

An Independent Medical Examination is a clinical assessment performed by a medical specialist who has had no prior treating relationship with the claimant. The purpose is to provide an objective, independent opinion on diagnosis, causation, treatment, prognosis and impairment for use in legal, insurance or compensation proceedings.

How is an IME arranged in Australia?

EWI instructs a credentialled specialist appropriate to the matter, after conflict-of-interest screening. Examination availability depends on the specialty and the claimant's location; the instructing party is given clear timing once the specialist has been confirmed and the appointment booked.

How much does an Independent Medical Examination cost?

IME fees vary by specialty, complexity, and whether a whole person impairment assessment is required. A fee estimate is provided in writing once the matter is reviewed, and all fees are disclosed before the appointment is booked. Cancellation and non-attendance fees may apply per the specialist's terms.

Who can request an Independent Medical Examination?

IMEs are commonly requested by law firms acting for either claimant or defendant, insurers, self-insured employers, superannuation trustees, and government compensation schemes. The instructing party sets the questions the expert is asked to address.

What is the difference between an IME and a treating doctor's report?

A treating doctor has an ongoing clinical relationship with the patient and writes from a treatment perspective. An IME specialist has no treating role, examines once, and provides an independent medico-legal opinion that addresses the specific legal or insurance questions posed by the instructing party.

What should a claimant bring to an IME appointment?

Photo identification, a list of current medications, any imaging or test results not already provided to the specialist, and reading glasses if required. Claimants may bring a support person but they cannot participate in the clinical examination itself.

How long does an IME appointment take?

Most examinations run 45 to 90 minutes depending on specialty and complexity. Multi-system or whole person impairment assessments may take longer. Specialists allow time for history, clinical examination, and any required functional testing.

What does an IME report cover?

A standard IME report includes a history of the injury or condition, review of medical records, clinical examination findings, diagnosis, opinion on causation, assessment of treatment reasonableness, prognosis, work capacity, and where requested, whole person impairment assessed under the relevant AMA Guides edition or jurisdictional guideline.

Can an IME include a whole person impairment (WPI) assessment?

Yes, where the specialist is appropriately credentialled. WPI assessments are conducted under the AMA Guides edition or jurisdictional guideline that applies to the scheme (for example SIRA, WorkSafe Victoria, or WorkCover Queensland).

What jurisdictions does EWI cover for IMEs?

EWI arranges Independent Medical Examinations across all Australian states and territories, including NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory.

Can the claimant request a copy of the IME report?

The IME report is the property of the instructing party. Claimants who require a copy should request it through their legal representative or the instructing insurer. EWI delivers reports only to the instructing party.

Medico-Legal Services

Independent Medical Examinations

Q: Are EWI IME reports compliant with the Expert Witness Code of Conduct?

Yes. All IME reports delivered through EWI are prepared in accordance with the Harmonised Expert Witness Code of Conduct and the relevant Uniform Civil Procedure Rules. Reports are structured to be admissible in court and to withstand cross-examination.

EWI instructs credentialled medical specialists across Australia for Independent Medical Examinations in personal injury, workers compensation, CTP, TPD, income protection, and medical negligence matters. Reports are prepared in accordance with the Harmonised Expert Witness Code of Conduct and the relevant Uniform Civil Procedure Rules.

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What is an Independent Medical Examination?

An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a one-off clinical assessment by a medical specialist who has no prior treating relationship with the claimant. It is commissioned by a law firm, insurer, employer, or compensation scheme to obtain an objective medico-legal opinion that can be relied upon in litigation, statutory claims, or insurance determinations.

IME reports address diagnosis, causation, the reasonableness of treatment, prognosis, work capacity, and, where required, whole person impairment under the applicable AMA Guides edition. Examinations arranged through EWI are conducted by specialists who satisfy EWI's credentialling and independence requirements.

Medical specialties

IMEs are conducted across the following specialties. Where a matter requires a sub-specialty not listed, EWI will identify an appropriate practitioner on request.

Orthopaedic Surgery
General Surgery
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Psychiatry
General Medicine
Pain Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Occupational Medicine
Cardiology
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Radiology
Urology
Ear, Nose & Throat

Types of assessment

Standard IME assessment

A comprehensive clinical examination and review of medical records by a credentialled specialist. The expert provides an independent opinion on diagnosis, causation, treatment, prognosis, and impairment as required by the instructing party.

Supplementary IME report

A follow-up assessment where the claimant's condition has changed, further medical evidence has become available, or additional questions arise after the initial examination.

Desktop / file review

Expert review and opinion based on medical records and documentation without a physical examination. Suitable for preliminary assessments, record reviews, or where examination is not practicable.

Joint medical examination

A coordinated assessment in which multiple specialists examine the claimant in a single visit where practicable, providing a consolidated medical opinion for complex multi-injury claims.

Claim types

EWI arranges Independent Medical Examinations for the following matter types.

Personal injury

Motor vehicle, public liability, and general negligence claims requiring independent medical opinion on injury, causation, and prognosis.

Workers' compensation

Workplace injury assessments under the relevant state schemes including NSW (SIRA), Victoria (WorkSafe), and Queensland (WorkCover).

CTP / motor vehicle

Compulsory third party injury assessments for motor accident claims across all Australian jurisdictions.

Medical negligence

Independent medical opinions on standard of care, causation, and injury in clinical negligence and malpractice matters.

Total & permanent disability

TPD claim assessments evaluating capacity for employment and the permanence of disability for insurance and superannuation claims.

Income protection

Assessment of functional capacity, fitness for work, and ongoing disability for income protection insurance claims.

Jurisdictions

Examinations and impairment assessments are conducted under the scheme and impairment guide applicable to the matter. Common Australian schemes and guides are set out below.

State / Territory	Scheme	Impairment guide
NSW	SIRA (Workers Comp & CTP)	NSW WC Guides / MAA Guidelines
VIC	WorkSafe Victoria / TAC	AMA Guides 4th Ed. (modified)
QLD	WorkCover Queensland	AMA Guides 5th Ed.
WA	WorkCover WA	AMA Guides 5th Ed.
SA	ReturnToWorkSA	AMA Guides 5th Ed. (Impairment Assessment Guidelines)
TAS	WorkCover Tasmania	AMA Guides 5th Ed.
ACT	ACT Workers Compensation	AMA Guides 5th Ed.
NT	NT WorkSafe (Return to Work)	AMA Guides 5th Ed.

Engagement process

From receipt of instructions to delivery of the report.

01
Submit matter
The instructing party provides claimant details, claim type, medical specialty required, and the specific questions for the expert.
02
Expert instructed
EWI instructs an appropriate credentialled specialist after conflict-of-interest screening.
03
Appointment booked
An examination is scheduled at a convenient location. Confirmation and attendance instructions are issued to all parties.
04
Assessment conducted
The specialist conducts the clinical examination and reviews the medical records provided.
05
Report delivered
The quality-reviewed IME report is delivered to the instructing party in accordance with the agreed reporting standards.

Information for examinees

An IME is a structured clinical appointment, typically 45 to 90 minutes in length, conducted at the specialist's consulting rooms. No fasting or other preparation is required beyond attending with the documents and aids listed.

Attending prepared assists the specialist in forming a complete clinical picture and reduces the likelihood of a supplementary appointment being required.

Documents and items to bring

—Photo identification (driver licence or passport).
—A complete list of current medications and dosages.
—Any recent imaging, scans, or test results not already provided.
—Reading glasses, hearing aids, or mobility aids as required.
—A list of treating doctors and dates of significant treatment.
—An interpreter where English is not the claimant's first language, arranged in advance.

Standards and quality assurance

Every IME report delivered through EWI is prepared under the following requirements:

—All examining specialists hold current AHPRA registration.
—Conflict of interest screening is conducted before every engagement.
—Reports are prepared to a structured template that addresses court admissibility requirements.
—Complex and multi-specialty matters undergo a documented quality review prior to delivery.
—All matters are tracked under a chain-of-custody record from instruction to report delivery.
—Reports are prepared in accordance with the Harmonised Expert Witness Code of Conduct and the relevant Uniform Civil Procedure Rules.

Further detail is available in our Expert Report Standards and the Harmonised Expert Witness Code of Conduct.

Frequently asked questions

Instruct EWI for an Independent Medical Examination

Submit matter details to receive a specialist recommendation, indicative availability, and a scoped written fee estimate before instruction.

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