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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71780</law_id><section_number>65.2-607</section_number><catch_line>Medical examination; physician-patient privilege inapplicable; autopsy</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-127.1:03</reference><reference>8.01-399</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="65.2">Workers' Compensation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Notice of Accident; Filing Claims; Medical Attention and Examination</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> After an <span class="dictionary">injury</span> and so long as he claims compensation, the employee, if so requested by his <span class="dictionary">employer</span> or ordered by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, shall submit himself to examination, at reasonable times and places, by a duly qualified physician or surgeon designated and paid by the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. However, no <span class="dictionary">employer</span> may obtain more than one examination per medical specialty without prior authorization from the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, based upon a showing of good cause or necessity. The employee shall have the right to have present at such examination any duly qualified physician or surgeon provided and paid by him. No <span class="dictionary">fact</span> communicated to, or otherwise learned by, any physician or surgeon who may have attended or examined the employee, or who may have been present at any examination, shall be privileged, either in <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> provided for by this title, or any action at <span class="dictionary">law</span> brought to recover <span class="dictionary">damages</span> against any <span class="dictionary">employer</span> subject to the provisions of this title. <a id="paragraph-258604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-607/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the employee refuses to submit himself to or in any way obstructs such examination requested by and provided for by the <span class="dictionary">employer</span>, his right to compensation and his right to take or <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> any proceedings under this title shall be suspended until such refusal or objection ceases and no compensation shall at any time be payable for the period of suspension unless in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> the circumstances justify the refusal or obstruction. <a id="paragraph-258605" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-607/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">employer</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may in any case of death require an autopsy at the expense of the <span class="dictionary">party</span> requesting the same. Such autopsy shall be performed upon <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, and anyone obstructing or interfering with such autopsy shall be punished for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>. <a id="paragraph-258606" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-607/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 65-88; 1968, c. 660, &#xA7; 65.1-91; 1991, c. 355; 1993, c. 379.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
