(i) The Employee and the Doctor
The employee is permitted to choose freely his own doctor, and no interference with this privilege is permitted as long as it is exercised reasonably and without prejudice to the employee himself or the Compensation Fund. The only exceptions to this rule are those cases where employers, with the Compensation Commissioner's approval, provide their own medical aid facilities in toto, i.e. including hospital, nursing and other services - section 78 of the Act.
In terms of section 42 either the Compensation Commissioner or an employer may send the injured employee to another doctor chosen by him (Compensation Commissioner or employer) for a special examination and report. Special fees are payable for this service.
In the event of a change of doctors attending a case, the first doctor in attendance will, except where the case is handed over to a specialist, be regarded as the principal, and payment will normally be made to him. To avoid disputes, doctors should refrain from treating a case already under treatment without first discussing it with the first doctor. As a general rule, changes of doctor are not favoured, unless there are sufficient reasons therefore.
If an injured employee is in need of emergency treatment, the doctor should act in the same manner as he would to any patient who needs his urgent help. He should not, however, ask the Compensation Commissioner to authorise such treatment before the claim has been admitted as falling within the scope of the Act. It should be remembered that an employee seeks medical advice at his own risk. If, therefore, an employee represents to his doctor that he is a Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act case and yet fails to claim the benefits of the Act, leaving the Compensation Commissioner, or his employer, in ignorance of any possible grounds for a claim, the insurance fund concerned cannot accept any responsibility for any medical expenses incurred. In such circumstances the employee would be in the same position as any other member of the public as regards payment of his medical expenses.
(ii) Except where otherwise stated the fees charged for services of a general practitioner shall be two-thirds of the fees of the specialist for the same service.
(iii) Monetary values have been rounded off to the nearest 10 cents on the basis that monetary values ending with a 1 to 4 cents value must be rounded off to the lower zero, and that 5 to 9 cents must be rounded off to the upper zero.