Supreme Court OKs Ex Parte Communication with Worker's Doctor

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday unanimously overruled a controversial appellate decision holding that an injured worker is not required to authorize her treating physician to speak with her employer in order to obtain benefits for a compensable injury.In Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. v. McRae, No. S12G0714, the high court explained that a worker has no right to privacy in her medical records and information after she submits a claim for benefits or receives payment from her employer for her treatment. The court said that nothing in Georgia's statutory scheme prohibits oral communica...