Under the FECA you may initially select any qualified doctor to be your treating doctor - although the law does place some restrictions on the use of chiropractors. If you are not a federal employee, you are not covered by the FECA, and state law will apply. In some states, you have a right to see your own doctor if you make this request in writing before the injury occurs. More typically, however, injured workers are referred to a doctor recruited and paid for by their employers. Usually, you will only be required to see the company doctor for a maximum of 30 days, and then you will be able to choose your own physician. Under FECA, if your doctor submits medical reports that address workers' compensation officials' questions and concerns, usually no problem will arise unless your employer asks for a second opinion examination. The following guidelines apply to second opinion exams: The doctor is chosen by the agency and need not be Board-certified in any field of medical expertise (although many are). The agency pays all associated expenses and is responsible for forwarding to the second opinion doctor all relevant medical documents, a statement of accepted facts (a 'SOAF'), and any specific questions that it wants the doctor to address. Under the statute, you have the right to bring your own doctor to these exams. Any representative you've appointed must receive formal notice of the exam. The doctor must submit a written report within 30 days of the exam. The doctor is supposed to provide only medical opinions. If the initial second opinion report is unclear, the workers' comp office is responsible for following up and requesting a supplemental report. If the second opinion doctor's report agrees with your treating doctor's opinions, there generally is no problem, and FECA compensation payments will continue uninterrupted. If the second opinion doctor's report is different from the first doctor's report there are two options: the office can either weigh the medical evidence to determine which doctor's opinion is more accurate or declare a tie and seek a third doctor's opinion. The workers' comp office will usually give more weight to the second opinion doctor's evaluation than to the treating physician's. If your compensation is modified based on the second opinion, you have the right to appeal. If the agency decides the conflicting medical opinions are of equal weight and declares a tie, it will appoint a third doctor, or referee, to resolve any conflicts in the medical evidence. Your doctor's report will have a big impact on the benefits you receive. Keep in mind that a doctor paid for by your employer's insurance company is not your friend. The desire to get future business from your employer or the insurance company may motivate a doctor to minimize the seriousness of your injury or to identify it as a pre-existing condition. For example, if you injure your back and the doctor asks you if you have ever had back problems before, it would be unwise to treat the doctor to a 20-year history of every time you suffered a minor pain or ache. Just say no unless you have suffered a significant previous injury or chronic condition.