Massaro v. Columbian Apartments

457 So. 2d 1131, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2201, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15481

• Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
• Decided: October 16, 1984
• Docket: No. AX-151
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

We affirm the order appealed from below except that portion denying claimant payment for medical services provided by Dr. Aaron Schneider. When the employer/carrier (E/C) deauthorized the claimant’s first treating physician without authorizing alternative medical care, even when claimant requested such care, claimant was justified in seeking medical treatment from a physician of his own choosing. Gust K. Newberg Construction Co. v. Warren, 449 So.2d 934 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); Sears, Roebuck and Co. v. Viera, 440 So.2d 49 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983). We find the E/C’s contention that it is entitled to ignore the request for alternative medical care of a claimant who is represented by counsel to be without merit. Accordingly, we modify the deputy commissioner’s order to require the E/C to pay the costs associated with Dr. Schneider’s orthopedic examination and evaluation of claimant. Otherwise, the order appealed from is AFFIRMED.

BOOTH, SMITH and THOMPSON, JJ., concur.