Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs)
Objective review of medical history, records, imaging and physical findings to address diagnosis and the medical questions relevant to an evaluation.
Dr. Michael Jaffe, MD is a medical-legal expert in Murray, Utah, providing independent medical evaluations, medical record review, causation analysis, impairment evaluations, and objective medical opinions for attorneys and legal professionals. As an IME Medical Expert in Murray, he provides independent medical assessments for cases involving injury, pain, and functional limitations.
Based in Murray, Utah, Dr. Jaffe applies his experience in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and interventional pain management to medical-legal cases involving injury, pain, functional limitations, causation, impairment, and long-term treatment needs. His clinical background also supports his role as a Medical Expert Witness in Murray when medical expertise is required for legal matters.
Each medical-legal evaluation is conducted independently of the referral source and is grounded in medical records, imaging, patient history, physical examination findings, and current clinical evidence.
A medical-legal expert provides an independent medical opinion to help attorneys and other legal professionals understand medical issues relevant to a case. Depending on the matter, an evaluation may address diagnosis, causation, pre-existing conditions, treatment, impairment, future medical needs, functional limitations, and work capacity. Attorneys looking for a Medical Legal Expert in Murray may seek this type of objective medical analysis when evaluating a case.
Depending on the questions being addressed, an independent medical evaluation may include one or more of the following components. Each evaluation is tailored to the specific needs of the case and the medical questions presented.
Review of relevant medical records, diagnostic studies, and imaging.
Assessment of diagnosis and the mechanism of injury.
Evaluation of whether an injury or condition is medically related to the claimed event.
Assessment of impairment using applicable medical and AMA guidelines.
Evaluation of anticipated treatment, procedures, and ongoing care.
Assessment of functional limitations, quality of life, and work capacity.
Dr. Michael Jaffe, MD is a board-certified physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. His clinical experience includes the evaluation and management of pain, injuries, and functional limitations. He is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine and is a Certified Independent Medical Examiner. Dr. Jaffe provides objective medical analysis and independent medical opinions for legal matters.
Dr. Jaffe also chairs Utah Labor Commission medical panels. As a medical-legal expert, his work includes objective medical review and analysis for cases where an independent medical opinion is needed.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine
Certified Independent Medical Examiner
Chair, Utah Labor Commission Medical Panels
Trusted medical-legal analysis and opinions
Dr. Michael Jaffe provides independent medical evaluations and objective medical opinions for attorneys and legal professionals involved in personal injury and other medical-legal matters. His evaluations can address diagnosis, causation, pre-existing conditions, treatment, impairment, future medical needs, functional limitations, and work capacity.
Attorneys seeking Medical Legal Services near me can work with Dr. Jaffe for independent medical evaluations and objective medical opinions.
Independent medical evaluations and objective medical opinions to help assess injuries, medical conditions, causation, impairment, treatment needs, and functional limitations in personal injury cases.
Objective, evidence-based medical analysis addressing diagnosis, causation, pre-existing conditions, treatment, impairment, and other medical issues relevant to litigation.
Medical expertise and independent analysis to help legal professionals understand complex medical records, diagnoses, treatment, functional limitations, and medical-legal issues.
Services are tailored to the medical questions presented in each case rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all evaluation.
Objective review of medical history, records, imaging and physical findings to address diagnosis and the medical questions relevant to an evaluation.
Independent medical analysis and clearly reasoned opinions for attorneys and other legal professionals.
Analysis of whether an incident or trauma is medically probable to have caused a diagnosis, including consideration of pre-existing conditions.
Impairment evaluation using applicable Utah Labor Commission guidance and the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
Assessment of reasonably anticipated medications, therapy, injections, procedures and surgeries related to an injury or condition.
Assessment of functional limitations, quality-of-life effects and the impact of an injury or illness on work capacity.
Each evaluation follows a structured process to ensure a thorough, objective, and well-supported medical opinion.
Medical records, imaging and history are reviewed, followed by a physical examination when appropriate.
The evaluation considers mechanism of injury, temporal association and relevant pre-existing conditions.
Functional limitations and impairment are assessed using applicable standards and medical evidence.
The process is tailored to the specific medical questions in each case and follows accepted medical and professional standards.
Is it ‘medically probable’ that a particular incident or trauma caused the diagnosis
Causation may be complex due to confounding factors like pre-existing conditions. Dr Jaffe analysis is nuanced, utilizing decades of experience, current literature and the AMA Guides to Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation to calculate causation.
What are the functional limitation that the injury or illness causes An impairment rating is a number from 0-100% that represents the severity of the impairment. To make this determination, Dr Jaffe uses the 2006 Utah Labor Commission’s Impairment Rating Guide or the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th and 6th editions. He provides an honest assessment of the appropriateness of medical care received to date, future medical needs (medications, therapy, injections, procedures, and surgeries), and the injury’s impact on quality of life, function, and work capacity.
I
have known Michael Jaffe, MD since 2008. Dr. Jaffe is not only an
academic, but he is also a physician's physician; that is, other
physicians trust him with their own medical care. I have had the
benefit of retaining Dr. Jaffe as an expert witness to perform
independent medical examinations on my clients who have been severely
injured due to another's fault. Having practiced plaintiff's personal
injury for over 20 years, managed thousands of personal injury cases to
resolution, deposed hundreds of medical experts, and litigated dozens of
complex personal injury cases to a final verdict, I have extensive
experience working with retained experts on both sides of the isle. If
you want a thorough and unbiased medical expert on your case,
unequivocally, I recommend Dr. Jaffe.
Rick Lundell, President of Utah Association for Justice
"I have consulted with, and retained, Dr. Jaffe on the defense of many claims arising out of injury, pain, and anticipated future treatments. Dr. Jaffe is responsive, timely, and articulate. He helped me understand the defenses available.” Thomas Rollins, Attorney at Law, Litchfield Cavo
An independent medical examination (IME) is an objective medical evaluation performed by a qualified physician for a legal, insurance, workers’ compensation, or other medical-legal matter. The evaluation may include a review of medical records and imaging, relevant medical history, physical examination findings, diagnosis, causation, treatment, impairment, and functional limitations.
An IME is a structured medical evaluation addressing defined questions, while a medical expert opinion may involve analysis of records and clinical evidence to provide an independent opinion on issues relevant to a legal matter.
Attorneys and legal professionals may request an independent medical evaluation or expert medical opinion when a case requires objective analysis of injuries, treatment, impairment, or future medical needs.
Depending on the case, an evaluation may address diagnosis, causation, apportionment, impairment, treatment needs, future medical care, functional limitations, quality of life, and work capacity.
Yes. Dr. Jaffe is certified to provide impairment ratings and uses applicable Utah Labor Commission guidance and the AMA Guides when appropriate.
No. Due to his work with the Utah Labor Commission’s Medical Panels, he does not accept industrial or workers’ compensation IMEs.
Dr. Jaffe’s office is located in Murray, Utah. Contact the office to discuss the scope, scheduling, and logistics of an evaluation.
Medical-legal services may be used by attorneys, legal professionals, insurance-related professionals, and others who need an independent medical opinion regarding issues relevant to a case. Evaluations can help clarify complex medical information and its relationship to an individual’s injury, condition, treatment, or functional limitations.
A medical-legal evaluation may include a review of medical records, diagnostic imaging, relevant medical history, physical examination findings, and current clinical evidence. Depending on the matter, the evaluation may address diagnosis, causation, pre-existing conditions, treatment, impairment, future medical needs, functional limitations, and work capacity.
A medical-legal evaluation can provide an independent medical opinion regarding causation based on the available medical evidence. The physician may consider the individual’s medical history, records, imaging, examination findings, diagnoses, and the circumstances surrounding the injury or condition when forming an objective medical opinion.
Yes. Review of relevant medical records and diagnostic imaging can be an important component of a medical-legal evaluation. Dr. Jaffe considers available medical documentation, imaging, clinical history, and examination findings when developing an objective medical opinion.
Dr. Jaffe can evaluate medical impairment when it is relevant to the medical-legal matter. An impairment evaluation may consider the individual’s diagnosis, clinical findings, functional limitations, treatment history, and other relevant medical evidence to provide an objective medical opinion.
Yes. When relevant to a case, a medical-legal evaluation can consider pre-existing conditions and distinguish them from new injuries, conditions, or changes in symptoms. The opinion is based on the available medical records, history, examination findings, imaging, and other relevant clinical evidence.
Yes. When appropriate, a medical-legal evaluation may address anticipated future medical needs based on the individual’s diagnosis, clinical condition, treatment history, prognosis, and available medical evidence. The scope of the opinion depends on the specific requirements of the case.
When relevant to the medical-legal matter, Dr. Jaffe can evaluate functional limitations and provide an objective medical opinion regarding how a medical condition or injury may affect physical function and work-related abilities. The evaluation may consider clinical findings, symptoms, treatment history, and documented functional limitations.
Dr. Michael Jaffe provides medical-legal services in Murray, Utah, for attorneys and legal professionals seeking independent medical evaluations and objective medical opinions.
Attorneys and legal professionals can contact the office to discuss medical-legal evaluation needs, scope, scheduling, and logistics.
5801 S Fashion Blvd #180
Murray, UT 84107