Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Neurosurgery Referral for Worker With Thoracic Spine Issues

The West Virginia Supreme Court unanimously upheld the denial of a neurosurgery referral to a worker complaining of thoracic spine issues. Case: Duffey v. Office of Miners' Health, No. 21-0304, 09/19/2022, published. Facts: Timothy Duffey worked as a state inspector for the Office of Miners' Health. On April 17, 2019, he struck his rib cage on a joystick while bending over to pick up an object he had dropped. The employees' and physicians' report of injury, completed the following day, indicated Duffey injured his left ribs. He was diagnosed with chest wall contusion at Boon...