What medically explains the condition?
Evaluation of diagnosis, chronology, mechanism, exposure, treatment, competing causes, and the relationship between an event or condition and the claimed outcome.
Attorney referral resource
Attorney Referral Guide.
A practical framework for identifying case fit, defining the medical question, organizing records, and beginning an independent physician review.
A focused beginning
The best referrals start with a clear medical question.
An initial inquiry should identify the matter, parties, jurisdiction, deadline, and requested service without transmitting protected health information. After conflict review and engagement, a focused record set and precise referral question help the physician deliver an efficient, useful analysis.
Attorney and authorized-representative resource · Updated August 2026
Potential case fit
Common reasons to request physician review.
What is the functional medical impact?
Review of objective findings, treatment, prognosis, restrictions, organ-system effects, and applicable medical evaluation questions.
Does the exposure history fit?
Analysis of workplace agents, tasks, route, intensity indicators, duration, latency, disease evidence, and medically relevant alternatives.
Is an independent medical opinion appropriate?
Review of direct, secondary, aggravation, exposure-related, and residual-disability questions when they fall within the physician’s expertise.
Does the medical record support the claimed relationship?
Analysis involving covered illness, consequential conditions, contribution, aggravation, occupational history, and scientific evidence.
What are the central clinical issues?
Early screening, chronology, record review, report preparation, independent examination, critique, deposition, or testimony as agreed.
Referral pathway
Five steps from inquiry to opinion.
Initial inquiry
Provide party names for conflict review, jurisdiction, case type, deadline, requested service, and a brief non-confidential summary.
Conflict & fit review
Confirm independence, subject-matter fit, availability, and whether the requested questions fall within the physician’s qualifications.
Scope & engagement
Define the assignment, deliverable, timing, terms, record-transfer method, and any examination or testimony expectations.
Secure records
Transfer protected health information only through the approved secure channel after engagement.
Review & communication
Receive the agreed consultation, chronology, opinion, report, examination, or testimony support with clear communication about progress.
The initial inquiry
Send enough to assess fit—without medical records.
- Referring attorney, firm, and contact information
- Names of parties, organizations, facilities, and key clinicians for conflict review
- Jurisdiction, venue, claim type, and procedural posture
- Requested service: screening, consultation, report, examination, deposition, or testimony
- Central medical question in one or two sentences
- Known deadlines and anticipated volume of records
- Whether opposing experts or prior medical opinions are involved
After engagement
Build a usable review packet.
Referral letterState the exact medical questions, relevant standard, requested work product, and deadline.
Record indexList materials by source and date so completeness can be checked.
Medical chronologyInclude one when available, while preserving access to the underlying source records.
Core recordsProvide relevant clinical notes, testing, imaging, pathology, treatment, and specialist opinions.
Claim materialsInclude decisions, pleadings, exposure records, testimony, or prior opinions that bear on the medical question.
LiteratureIdentify literature already relied upon by a party; the physician may independently select additional sources.
Avoid selective records.
A medically reliable review requires material evidence that supports and challenges the proposed conclusion. Tell the physician what remains unavailable and supplement the file when important records arrive.
Questions that improve the referral
Ask for medical analysis—not a predetermined result.
“Please state that the exposure caused the disease.”
Ask“Based on the documented exposure and medical record, what conclusions can be reached about causation, and why?”
“Is the claimant disabled?”
Ask“What diagnoses, objective findings, functional limitations, treatment effects, and prognosis are supported by the record?”
“Please agree with our theory.”
Ask“What medical evidence supports or weighs against the proposed relationship, and what additional evidence would materially affect the analysis?”
What counsel can expect
Independent work with clear boundaries.
Independent by design. An opinion is never guaranteed. Conclusions are based on the available medical evidence and accepted clinical reasoning.
This guide provides general referral information and does not create a physician-client, physician-patient, attorney-client, or expert-retention relationship. Engagement occurs only through a completed written agreement.
Referral process
Four steps from inquiry to opinion.
01 · Initial inquiry
Share the referral question, jurisdiction, deadlines, and parties for conflict review—without protected health information.
02 · Scope & engagement
Confirm the materials, requested work product, timing, and terms.
03 · Secure transfer
Provide records only through the approved secure channel after engagement.
04 · Review & opinion
Receive clear communication, a thorough analysis, and the agreed deliverable.
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