2nd opinions?

undefinedWhat is the name of your state?Maryland.

My husband has been on Workman's comp leave for going on 6 months now. He injured his knee at work and surgery was finally approved 2 months ago. Just last month his physician/surgeon that he has been seeing this entire time, told him he would need to have his knee lubricated by a series of 3 shots. He would get a shot once a week for three weeks and after these shots he could probably then return to work. Before Workman's Comp would authorize the shots, they said he had to see another specialist. This specialist saw him for all of 5 minutes and then filled out paperwork. On the note he sent back to my husband's employer it said he could return to light duty. But the 1st dr. that has been treating him all this time says he can't.

The employer is saying that since the 2nd Dr. says he can return to work that he will probably have to do so.

Can someone explain to me how a Dr. that makes a 5 min. diagnosis and has no history with a patient, can overrule a physician and surgeon that the patient has been seeing for 6 months? That makes no sense!!!

Can someone explain to me how a Dr. that makes a 5 min. diagnosis and has no history with a patient, can overrule a physician and surgeon that the patient has been seeing for 6 months? Because (a) the specialist almost certainly reviewed your husband's entire medical records, x-rays, test results, etc. prior to seeing him and because (b) that's the way the WC system works.

Your husband needs to return to work or run the risk of being fired. At the very least, if he fails to return the WC carrier will cut off his TTD benefits. Your husband needs to give this light-duty job a shot. If he finds he can't physically handle it, then he needs to inform his employer of that and return to see his own doctor asap for a medical authorization to be off work.