What if your doctor refuses to help with your Social Security Disability Claim?
Sadly, more and more doctors are refusing to help their own patients with Social Security disability claims. Why?Doctors may fear or misunderstand what they are being asked to do. They may fear the time commitment because they misconstrue the amount of time required.
Completing a medical source statement requires a couple of minutes to check off some boxes on a form. The doctor will never be called on to give more testimony. I have never seen a subponea issued for a doctor--even though I have requested them a few times. It just isn't done.
No special evaluation or examination is required for completing a medical source statement. It is based on the patient's medical history. Since the patient's own doctor knows more about the patient than anyone, his/her opinion is most helpful in making a fair decision.
Some doctors believe that when they complete a medical source statement they are "signing up" or "approving" a patient for disability benefits. This is not true. The decision about disability, under federal law, rests solely with the Commissioner of Social Security. The doctor is providing one piece of medical evidence which can be accepted or ignored by Social Security, at their discretion.
Unless the physician willfully provides false or misleading information, he/she has no legal liability in the matter.
Talk straight to your doctor. If you receive benefits with Medicare, you have money to pay for past and future medical treatment. The doctor wins. You win. If your doctor still won't cooperate by providing honest, truthful opinion evidence, consider the possibility that he/she simply doesn't give a darn!
CHARLES W. FORSYTHE
Social Security Disability Specialists
7027 Old Madison Pike NW
Huntsville, AL 35806
PHONE (256) 799-0297
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