PERSONAL INJURY, PSYCHIATRIC HARM, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, MENTAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, MENTAL ANGUISH...

These evaluations can be requested by the attorneys for plaintiff or defense. The reports share many characteristics of other evaluations for torts involving psychiatric issues.
*Requests for forensic evaluations for individuals involved in the treatment ( i.e in the capacity of doctor-patient relationship) with the evaluator (presently or in the past) will not be accepted.
However, if this evaluator is subpoenaed for testimony for patients involved in treatment (i.e. in cases where doctor-patient relationship has been established) it must be done with the waiver by the patient of testimonial privilege, and with understanding that such testimony inherently cannot be qualified as impartial or as a substitute for an objective forensic evaluation. In such cases no opinions will be provided regarding prognosis, need for future treatment and associated costs.
The party making the request for independent medical evaluation should expect the report to address the following areas:

• Source of referral
  
• Date and Place of the Evaluation, and time spent for the preparation of the report.
  
• Statement of non-confidentiality.
  
• List of reference materials and of interviews utilized in the preparation of the report.
  
• Detailed background information of the client.
  
• Past psychiatric history
  
• Medical history
  
• Substance abuse history.
  
• Present Mental Status Exam
  
• Description of the triggering event by the plaintiff
  
• Description of the triggering event by the collateral sources
  
• Issues of duty, dereliction of duty, negligence and resulting harm
  
• Description of the functioning of the client prior to becoming disabled
  
• Description of the functioning of the client after becoming disabled
  
• Review and summary of pertinent collateral information (medical and psychiatric records, accounts of acquaintances, co-workers, etc.).
  
• Diagnostic Impression/Severity of Impairment.
  
• Reasoning as to how the diagnostic impression has been reached.
  
• Relationship of present impairment to client's ability to work (in specific occupation and general or related fields).
  
• Personality, psycho-social, and other factors contributing to disability.
  
• Issue of malingering (feigning signs and symptoms of mental illness).
  
• Summary of previous treatment and an opinion as to whether or not adequate/optimal treatment was received by client.
  
• Prognosis/Need for additional treatment/Related costs.
  

The party making the referral is responsible for providing the necessary collateral information for the preparation of the report.