People invited to a medical expert assessment often ask: Which documents should I bring? Do I need to gather all my medical reports again? And what happens if I am missing some findings?
When an assessment is commissioned by a court, the German Pension Insurance or another authority, the expert is often already provided with extensive records. Particularly important, therefore, are new findings and additional information not yet included in the available records.
You do not need to bring documents that are already available again
As a rule, documents already sent to us with the assessment file do not need to be submitted again. You therefore do not need to compile your entire medical history again or copy reports that are already available.
However, documents you recently submitted to the court, the German Pension Insurance or another authority may not yet have reached us. Please let us know. If you are unsure, we can clarify in advance whether they have already been received.
Which new documents are helpful?
Please bring the following documents, provided you have them, they are relevant to the assessment and they are not already included in the records supplied:
- New specialist or psychotherapeutic reports.
- Recent discharge reports from a hospital, day clinic or rehabilitation facility.
- New examination results, such as psychological test results or relevant physical findings.
- An up-to-date medication plan or a list of the medicines you currently take, including doses.
Please also tell us about changes since your application or the most recently documented treatment. These may include a hospital stay, newly started therapy, changes in symptoms or medication changes. You can, of course, also discuss these during the assessment interview.
What if documents are missing?
If you no longer have a report or cannot find it, this is not initially a reason to worry. You do not need to obtain all older documents again as a precaution.
Please tell us which reports are missing and where the examination or treatment took place. We will then clarify whether the information is required for the assessment and, if so, the lawful route by which it can be requested.
Please do not independently arrange additional examinations solely to prepare for the assessment. If further findings are needed, this will be clarified specifically.
Please do not cancel an agreed examination appointment solely because documents are missing. If in doubt, contact us beforehand. The specific instructions in your invitation remain applicable.
A brief overview can make preparation easier
If you wish, you can make a few notes before the appointment:
- What symptoms do you currently have, and when did they start?
- What treatments have taken place since the most recent available reports?
- Which medicines are you currently taking?
- What has changed in your everyday or working life?
This overview is voluntary. You do not need to write a detailed report yourself. During the interview, you will have an opportunity to explain the information relevant to the assessment assignment.
How are your information and documents protected?
Health information is particularly sensitive data. The information, examination findings and documents processed for the assessment are those necessary to answer the specific assignment. Statutory data protection requirements and medical confidentiality apply.
Before the examination, the expert’s role, who commissioned the assessment and who is intended to receive the report are explained. In court or administrative proceedings, other authorised people or bodies may have access under the relevant procedural rules.
Documents are not deleted immediately simply because the report has been completed. Retention and deletion are governed by the applicable legal requirements and the respective purpose of processing.
Please agree with us in advance on the transmission of medical documents. Public comments and messages through social networks are not intended for this purpose.
Further information about the process
An expert assessment provides an independent and clearly reasoned answer to a specific medical question. The documents and examinations required depend on the individual assignment.
Our article “What happens during a medical expert assessment?” explains the basic process. Further information is available under Medical expert reports. For organisational questions, please use our contact page.
Dr. med. Reza Ladjevardi · Specialist in Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
This article provides general information and preparation guidance. The specific assessment assignment and the instructions in your invitation are decisive. Acceptance of an assignment requires a review of the question and professional competence.
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