A psychological Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a one-time, objective evaluation performed outside any treatment relationship, and one of several forensic psychology services the practice provides. An attorney, insurer, or employer usually requests it, not the person being examined — distinct from evaluations like a parental fitness evaluation or a competency to stand trial evaluation, which answer different legal questions. The evaluation addresses questions of diagnosis, causation, impairment, and whether treatment is clinically necessary, drawing on a review of records, a clinical interview, and standardized testing where appropriate.

What a Psychological IME Actually Is

An Independent Medical Examination, or IME, is a third-party psychological evaluation performed without a treatment relationship. No doctor-patient relationship forms between the examining psychologist and the person being evaluated. The psychologist’s job is to answer a specific referral question objectively, based on what the evaluation shows.
## Who Requests an IME
A third party requests an IME, usually an attorney, an insurer, or an employer. The person being evaluated almost never initiates one on their own. The examiner has no ongoing clinical relationship with the person and no stake in which side prevails. The goal is an impartial opinion.
## What an IME Is Used For
Litigation, insurance, and disability cases account for most psychological IME referrals. Common questions include what diagnosis, if any, applies; whether a specific incident or exposure caused or contributed to the condition; how the condition affects the person’s functioning; and whether continued treatment is clinically warranted. Each case brings its own referral question, and the examination is built around answering that particular question rather than conducting a general checkup.
## What Happens During the Examination
Three pieces typically make up an IME: a review of records connected to the matter (medical records, prior treatment notes, claim documentation), a clinical interview with the person being evaluated, and standardized psychological testing when it fits the referral question. A careful examiner also weighs alternative explanations for the presenting symptoms. Assuming the referral question’s premise is correct from the outset would undermine the point of an independent evaluation.
## How an IME Differs From a Treating Psychologist’s Records
Attorneys often weigh whether a case calls for an IME or whether records from a treating clinician will do. Those records come out of an ongoing care relationship and are written for clinical purposes, not litigation. They rarely speak directly to causation or to the specific legal question at hand. An IME starts from a different place: it’s built to answer a defined referral question, produced by an examiner with no treatment relationship and no stake in the outcome.
## What an IME Is Not
An IME isn’t a treatment session, and it doesn’t create an ongoing clinical relationship with the examiner. It also isn’t advocacy for whoever requested it. A properly conducted examination produces an opinion grounded in the evidence, not a conclusion written to favor one side. And an IME doesn’t resolve the underlying case on its own. The examiner’s opinion is one piece of evidence among several that the decision-maker ultimately weighs.
## What Happens to the Report Afterward
Once finished, the report goes to whoever requested the examination. From there it becomes one piece of evidence in the broader legal, insurance, or employment matter, considered alongside other records and, in litigation, potentially other experts’ opinions. The final call belongs to the court, the insurer, or the employer, not to the examining psychologist.
## A Few Common Misconceptions
People sometimes assume the process is automatically adversarial toward the person being evaluated. A properly conducted IME aims for objectivity no matter who requested it, even though it can feel unfamiliar without an existing clinical relationship. Another common assumption is that an IME replaces a treating clinician. It doesn’t. The two serve different purposes and often exist side by side in the same case.
## Where an IME Fits in the Case Timeline
An IME is usually one step in a longer process, not something that happens in isolation. It tends to come after records have been gathered and a specific referral question has been defined. The finished report then joins the broader file the decision-maker reviews, alongside treatment records and, where they exist, other experts’ opinions. Knowing where the examination sits in that sequence helps set realistic expectations about what it can and cannot settle.
## How an IME Differs From a Court-Ordered Forensic Evaluation
Not every forensic-adjacent evaluation works the same way. A psychological IME is typically requested by a private party — an attorney, insurer, or employer — outside the context of a criminal proceeding, while evaluations like a parental fitness evaluation or a competency to stand trial evaluation are typically ordered directly by a court within a specific legal proceeding. The distinction matters for scope: an IME is usually built around a narrower, insurance- or litigation-specific referral question, such as causation or impairment, rather than the broader legal standards that govern competency or custody matters.

What to Bring to an IME Appointment

Because an IME relies heavily on records review alongside the interview itself, having relevant documentation available in advance helps the process move efficiently. That typically includes prior medical or psychiatric records, any documentation tied to the incident or claim in question, and information about current treatment, if any. The referring party, whether that’s an attorney, an insurer, or an employer, usually coordinates gathering and forwarding these records ahead of the appointment, so the person being examined doesn’t need to track everything down independently.

How Long an IME Takes

Most psychological IMEs are completed in a single appointment, though the exact length varies depending on the complexity of the referral question and how much standardized testing is indicated. A straightforward diagnostic question might be addressed in a few hours, while a case involving multiple questions, extensive records, or more involved testing can take longer. The written report itself typically follows within a defined window after the appointment, giving the referring party time to build it into their broader case timeline.

Who Conducts a Psychological IME

A psychological IME should be conducted by a licensed psychologist with specific training and experience in forensic evaluation methodology, not simply a treating clinician asked to weigh in on an unfamiliar case. Dr. Sara Liebert’s forensic work follows the American Psychological Association’s Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, and she is licensed to practice in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida, which allows her to accept referrals across each of those jurisdictions.

Setting Up an IME Referral

Attorneys, insurers, and employers with a case that calls for a psychological IME can get in touch with the practice (https://liebertps.com/contact) to go over the referral question and scope; most inquiries hear back within a day. For matters that need a different kind of forensic assessment, parental fitness evaluations (https://liebertps.com/parental-fitness-evaluation-what-to-expect/) and competency-related evaluations (https://liebertps.com/competency-to-stand-trial-evaluation-explained/) are both described on the practice’s forensic psychology page (https://liebertps.com/service/forensic-psychology/).

Frequently Asked Questions: Psychological Independent Medical Examinations

Who usually requests a psychological IME?

A third party, typically an attorney, insurer, or employer, requests it rather than the person being evaluated.

Does going through an IME create a doctor-patient relationship?

No. An IME is an assessment performed without a treatment relationship, which is part of what supports its objectivity.

What kinds of questions does a psychological IME address?

Common questions include diagnosis, causation, impairment, and whether ongoing or future treatment is clinically necessary.

Does the examiner favor whoever requested the exam?

No. A properly conducted IME produces an objective, evidence-based opinion regardless of which party requested the examination.

How does an IME differ from a treating psychologist’s records?

A treating psychologist’s records reflect an ongoing care relationship and are written for clinical purposes. An IME is built specifically to produce an objective opinion on a defined legal or insurance question.

Does the IME report decide the outcome of my case or claim?

No. It’s one piece of evidence that the relevant decision-maker, a court, insurer, or employer, weighs alongside everything else in the matter.

Is an IME automatically adversarial toward the person being evaluated?

No. A properly conducted IME is meant to be objective regardless of who requested it, even though the process can feel unfamiliar since no ongoing clinical relationship exists.

Will an IME replace my treating clinician?

No. An IME and a treating clinician serve different purposes and can exist alongside each other; the IME is an independent assessment, not ongoing care.

What types of cases commonly involve a psychological IME?

Personal injury litigation, disability insurance claims, and employment matters involving fitness-for-duty questions are common contexts where a psychological IME may be requested.

Can I dispute the findings of an IME?

Yes. The IME report is one piece of evidence, not a final decision. Disagreement is typically addressed through your attorney, which may include challenging the methodology or presenting other expert testimony.

Can I bring someone with me to an IME appointment?

Policies on this vary by the specific matter and jurisdiction; your attorney can advise on whether an observer or recording is permitted for your particular examination.

How soon after an IME is the report typically completed?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the referral question and whether additional records or testing are involved, and it’s best discussed directly with the practice when the examination is scheduled.