ORCP 44 - Physical and mental examination of persons; reports of examinations

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXAMINATION OF PERSONS; REPORTS OF EXAMINATIONS

RULE 44

A Order for examination. When the mental or physical condition or the blood relationship of a party, or of an agent, employee, or person in the custody or under the legal control of a party (including the spouse of a party in an action to recover for injury to the spouse), is in controversy, the court may order the party to submit to a physical or mental examination by a physician or a mental examination by a psychologist or to produce for examination the person in such party’s custody or legal control. The order may be made only on motion for good cause shown and upon notice to the person to be examined and to all parties and shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be made.

B Report of examining physician or psychologist. If requested by the party against whom an order is made under section A of this rule or the person examined, the party causing the examination to be made shall deliver to the requesting person or party a copy of a detailed report of the examining physician or psychologist setting out such physician’s or psychologist’s findings, including results of all tests made, diagnoses and conclusions, together with like reports of all earlier examinations of the same condition. After delivery the party causing the examination shall be entitled upon request to receive from the party against whom the order is made a like report of any examination, previously or thereafter made, of the same condition, unless, in the case of a report of examination of a person not a party, the party shows inability to obtain it. This section applies to examinations made by agreement of the parties, unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise.

C Reports of examinations; claims for damages for injuries. In a civil action where a claim is made for damages for injuries to the party or to a person in the custody or under the legal control of a party, upon the request of the party against whom the claim is pending, the claimant shall deliver to the requesting party a copy of all written reports and existing notations of any examinations relating to injuries for which recovery is sought unless the claimant shows inability to comply.

D Report; effect of failure to comply.

D(1) Preparation of written report. If an obligation to furnish a report arises under sections B or C of this rule and the examining physician or psychologist has not made a written report, the party who is obliged to furnish the report shall request that the examining physician or psychologist prepare a written report of the examination, and the party requesting such report shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses, including the examiner’s fee, necessary to prepare such a report.

D(2) Failure to comply or make report or request report. If a party fails to comply with sections B and C of this rule, or if a physician or psychologist fails or refuses to make a detailed report within a reasonable time, or if a party fails to request that the examining physician or psychologist prepare a written report within a reasonable time, the court may require the physician or psychologist to appear for a deposition or may exclude the physician’s or psychologist’s testimony if offered at the trial.

E Access to confidential health information. Any party against whom a civil action is filed for compensation or damages for injuries may obtain copies of confidential health information as defined in Rule 55 D within the scope of discovery under Rule 36 B. Confidential health information may be obtained by written patient authorization, by an order of the court, or by subpoena in accordance with Rule 55 D.

[CCP 12/2/78; §§ A, E amended by c.284 §§ 27, 28; § E amended by CCP 12/4/82; § C amended by CCP 12/13/86; §§ C, E amended by CCP 12/10/88 and 1/6/89; §§ A, B, D amended by 1989 c.1084 § 2; § E amended by CCP 12/14/02; § E amended by CCP 12/8/18.]