In what case can an injured worker request a new panel after a COI is discovered?

An injured worker has the right to request a new panel after a Conflict of Interest (COI) is discovered if the COI is identified after the appointment has taken place. This situation is critical because the integrity of the evaluation process depends on the impartiality of the evaluator. If a COI comes to light after the evaluation, it raises questions about the validity and reliability of the findings and conclusions provided by the evaluator.

Once a COI is recognized post-appointment, it compromises the evaluator's independence, prompting the injured worker to seek a new panel to ensure that the new evaluator can provide an unbiased assessment of their condition. Ensuring fair treatment and due process for the injured worker is paramount, and the discovery of a COI significantly impacts this principle.

In contrast, if the COI had been known before the appointment, the worker could have opted not to proceed with that specific evaluator in the first place, thereby excluding the need for a new panel later. Additionally, factors like an unhelpful evaluator or personal preference do not legally warrant a request for a new panel unless they are tied directly to a defined conflict of interest. Hence, the context of the COI's discovery timing is essential to understanding when and why a new panel could be