The Psychiatric IME and the Treating Opinion

Stephan M. Carlson, MD, MBA, FAPA · Civil Psychiatric IME

A treating psychiatrist and a retained forensic examiner can evaluate the same plaintiff and reach different conclusions without either being careless. They occupy different roles, ask different questions, and rely on different strengths. Counsel who conflate the two tend to over-read the treating record and under-prepare the IME. Two roles, different purposes The treating psychiatrist is engaged to help the patient. The clinical history is taken to guide treatment, the note is written for continuity of care, and the therapeutic alliance encourages trust and symptom disclosure. The IME examiner is retained to answer a forensic question. The examination is not treatment. The evaluator reconst

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