Court Opinion

ID: 9534811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:42:52.255242+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:41.165662
License: Public Domain

SIMMS, Justice,
dissenting;
I must respectfully Dissent. I submit the majority opinion is predicated upon an erroneous premise, that is, AMA Guidelines must be applied and the tests required thereby given by the examining physician even though that physician finds the patient has no lung disease and “0” impairment.
As I read 85 O.S.Supp.1986, § 3(11), the purpose of the Guide is to evaluate impairment, not to determine if in fact an impairment exists. Rule 20(3)(i) requires the statement of substantial compliance with the Guides to be in reference to detailed factors upon which an evaluation of permanent impairment is based. The medical report in question concludes there *705is no permanent impairment. This conclusion was based upon the doctor’s objective findings which, he observed, cannot be changed.
I would hold the medical report to be competent and admissible, however, I would leave to the trier of the facts the determination of what weight, if any, should be given the report.
Simply put, it is my position that a physician need not resort to the Guides to evaluate impairment where there is no finding of impairment.
I am authorized to state that Justice DOOLIN joins in the views expressed herein.