What Does My Doctor Need To Say To Prove That My Medical Treatment Was Caused By My Injury At Work?

This issue was address by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in Mahone v. Home Fox Custom (2022).

In this case the North Carolina Court of Appeals clarified a medical opinion that the work injury “could or might” have caused the need for medical treatment is insufficient evidence to prove that the employer is responsible for paying for the inured employee’s medical treatment. However, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that a medical opinion that the work injury “likely” caused the need for medical treatment is sufficient evidence to prove that the employer is responsible for paying for the injured employee’s medical treatment. Further noting that it is not required that the medical opinion be provided to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.

Lastly, the Court noted that the medical opinion is not required to be provided via deposition testimony and instead the medical opinion may be provided via written correspondence offered into evidence before the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Should you have any questions about this or any other issues involving your work-related injury, please feel free to reach out to one of the Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialists at Cardinal Law Partners for a free consultation by calling  (833) 444-4127.