Expert Medical Services LLC
Independent Medical Evaluations
Objective medical evaluation and written opinion by a board-certified pain management physician. Available for plaintiff and defense in personal injury, workers' compensation, and related matters.
Request AvailabilityCredentials & Qualifications
- Service
- Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)
- Specialty
- Pain Management & Anesthesiology
- Board Certification
- American Board of Anesthesiology
- Report Format
- Written Opinion Letter
- Available For
- Plaintiff & Defense
- Jurisdiction
- California — Nationwide
What Is an Independent Medical Evaluation?
An independent medical evaluation (IME) is a structured clinical examination performed by a physician who has no prior treating relationship with the individual being evaluated. The IME physician reviews the available medical records, conducts a physical and clinical examination, and prepares a written report addressing the medicolegal questions specified by the retaining party.
In pain management litigation, IMEs are used to obtain a clinical opinion that is independent of the treating physician's perspective. The IME report may support or dispute the treating physician's findings — what matters is that it reflects an accurate reading of the medical evidence, not the interests of any party.
Scope of Pain Management IMEs Conducted by Dr. Dardashti
Dr. Dardashti conducts IMEs addressing the full range of pain conditions encountered in personal injury and workers' compensation litigation. Conditions commonly evaluated include:
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS / RSD) — diagnosis, causation, future care
- Spinal pain — cervical, thoracic, and lumbar; disc herniation; radiculopathy
- Neuropathic pain conditions following injury or surgery
- Post-laminectomy syndrome and persistent post-procedural pain
- Chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia in the context of trauma
- Medication management disputes — opioid prescribing, polypharmacy
- Spinal cord stimulation — medical necessity and appropriateness
IME vs. Treating Physician: Key Distinctions
Attorneys should understand the structural differences between an IME and a treating physician examination:
- Objectivity: The IME physician has no therapeutic obligation to the claimant and no financial stake in continued treatment.
- Scope: The IME addresses specific medicolegal questions defined by the retaining party, not the clinical management of the condition.
- Documentation: The IME produces a formal written report structured for litigation use, distinct from a clinical progress note.
- Cross-examination: The IME physician is expected to defend opinions under cross-examination. The treating physician may resist a litigation role.
These distinctions are frequently raised in deposition and at trial. Dr. Dardashti's opinions are prepared with these challenges in mind.
What the IME Report Contains
Each IME report includes a structured review of the available records, a summary of the examination findings, and specific written opinions on the questions posed. Standard opinion areas include:
- Diagnosis: supported, unsupported, or modified based on examination findings
- Causation: whether the condition is related to the claimed incident, pre-existing, or of mixed origin
- Treatment appropriateness: whether treatment rendered was medically necessary and within the standard of care
- Maximum medical improvement: whether the condition has plateaued
- Future medical care: the scope and estimated cost of ongoing or anticipated treatment
- Work capacity: functional limitations relevant to the case, when applicable
How to Request an IME
Contact Expert Medical Services LLC with the case summary, the type of engagement (IME, record review, or both), the specific questions to be addressed, and any relevant deadlines. A preliminary record set is helpful for case intake. Scheduling and availability are confirmed after initial case review.
For matters requiring expert witness testimony in addition to an IME, see the Expert Witness Services page. For cases requiring only record review without examination, a causation analysis or written record review opinion may be appropriate.
Related Services & Expertise
Causation Analysis
Linking mechanism of injury to diagnosis under accepted medical standards.
Future Medical Care Review
Projecting ongoing treatment costs once IME findings establish the clinical picture.
Expert Witness — California
Deposition and trial testimony in California state and federal court.
FAQ
IME — Common Attorney Questions
- An IME provides an objective, independent assessment of a claimant's condition by a physician who has no treating relationship with the individual. In litigation, IMEs are used to evaluate the diagnosis, causation, extent of injury, treatment appropriateness, and future medical needs from a neutral clinical perspective. The IME report is then available for use in settlement negotiations, motions, and trial.
- A treating physician's primary obligation is to the patient's care. An IME physician's obligation is to the accuracy of the medical opinion. The IME physician reviews the full record, conducts a structured examination, and prepares a written report addressing the medicolegal questions posed by the retaining party — without the therapeutic relationship or continuity of care that characterizes a treating physician.
- Dr. Dardashti evaluates a broad range of conditions in IMEs, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), chronic spinal pain, radiculopathy, neuropathic pain, post-laminectomy syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other conditions commonly encountered in personal injury and workers' compensation litigation. His evaluations address both the diagnosis and the claimed relationship to the subject injury.
- The IME report addresses the questions posed by the retaining attorney, which typically include: (1) whether the diagnosis is supported by the clinical evidence; (2) whether the condition is causally related to the subject incident; (3) whether the treatment rendered was medically necessary and within the standard of care; (4) whether the claimant has reached maximum medical improvement; and (5) the nature and scope of any ongoing or future medical needs.
- The examination itself typically takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the complexity of the case and the scope of the evaluation. Record review, report preparation, and quality review add additional time. Attorneys should allow adequate lead time for report delivery before deposition and trial deadlines.
- Yes. Maximum medical improvement (MMI) determination is a standard component of IME opinions in workers' compensation and personal injury matters. Dr. Dardashti evaluates whether the claimant's condition has stabilized and whether further treatment is expected to produce material improvement, or whether the condition has plateaued and future care is palliative rather than curative.
Request an Independent Medical Evaluation
Contact Expert Medical Services LLC to schedule an IME or request a record review opinion. Availability confirmed after case intake.