The workers compensation insurance company hired a nurse case manager tocome to my medical appointments and talk to my doctor. Can they do this?

A: Anyone hurt on the job in D.C. has the right to choose his or her own doctor and control the medical treatment needed to heal a ork injury. Nurse case managers or nurse consultants are hired by the workers compensation insurance company - and they work for the insurance company - not the injured worker. Why does a workers compensation insurance company hire a nurse to meet with you, call you and go to your doctor's appointments? Because most of the time they want to limit the medical treatment you get, interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, push your doctor to get you back to work before you are ready, and limit expensive medical or diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, that the insurance company will have to pay for. Only in rare cases have nurse case managers been beneficial to an injured worker. And remember - everything you say to an insurance company nurse (and some things you don't) goes right back to the insurance company.

If you have a serious work injury, don't let a nurse case manager "manage" your case. Get an experienced lawyer who handles workers compensation cases to protect your rights.

WARNING:

If you were seriously hurt at work don't talk to any insurance adjuster, nurse case manager, give a recorded statement or sign anything until you read Protect Your Rights: The Injured Worker's Guide to D.C. Workers' Compensation or talk to an experienced lawyer.

Protect Your Rights is a 75 page book on D.C. workers compensation and is available free to anyone who has been hurt at work or any family member of anyone hurt on the job.

Written by nationally recognized, Board Certified trial attorney Frank R. Kearney, this book explains your rights and responsibilities - everything the insurance company won't do.