How is this injury/illness not work related?
I have a very high stress job, and a couple of weeks ago i started to feel very weird at work and passed out.
It lasted a split second, and after that I was feeling very dizzy.
I really had no brain activity, couldnt walk straigh or hold a pen, couldnt see very well either…So my coworker rushed me to the doctor’s on duty next to our work…and there the doc called my employer to tell them my illness wasnt work related???
Im now left with the doctor and ER bill in excess of $4,000
What can i do, What should i do?
It sounds like a medical issue to me. I would consult an attorney and get another medical opinion…
If I didnt know better I would swear you had a mild heart attack/stroke
In order to qualify an injury or illness as work related, there must be sufficient evidence that the direct cause of the problem was directly related to the work you perform. Since there is no way to determine whether or not your job stress created the situation, you were denied. Stress can rise from a number of situations, personally or work related. It would be your responsibility, basically, to prove that the only stress in your life occurs at your workplace. Good luck on THAT one !
In other words, the bill is yours to pay unless you can provide full and convincing evidence that your job stress caused this unusual episode.
A high stressed job can lead to panic attacks, strokes, heart conditions, etc., you should really get a second opinion about that and consult a work compensation lawyer. I work for a therapist and we see this kind of cases all the time… The doctor shouldn’t have called your employer before all the facts (i.e. mri, ekg, tests… etc). My prayers are with you, you need to fight this, best of luck.
Well, acermill is wrong. An injury/illness can be casually related
to your employment/job duties to be compensable. File the first
report of injury with the employer. If you live in Calif, the
employer is liable for medical treatment up to 10K while the claim
is investigated. You have the right to appeal this Dr’s opinion by
requesting a AME/PQME from the Dept of WC. This bill is NOT yours
to ”eat” as has been suggested here. Not at all… There are
predetermined qualifiers for CT/cumulative trauma or stress/psych
claims in Calif. however.One, you must have been employed with this
employer for a minimum of 6 months prior to the injury/illness for
the claim to be compensable. This applies to stress claims only.
Since you did not provide your STATE…it would be difficult to
offer more information on your situation. Consult with a few attys
on the merits of your claim. Message boards are not a good
substitute for valid legal advice.