Officers the most important report of your career will be the medical report when you get hit in the line of duty.  The single greatest obsticle disabled law enforcement officers face is the medical professionals they encounter. Cops are used to seeing things as black and white. Good guys v. the bad guys. That "us against them" blinder can really get us into trouble, especially when our guard is down due to a career ending injury.

That caring medical professional who put you back together again, yes, the one that may have saved your life might distroy your existance. Sloppy reporting, incomplete notes, and lack of documentation on history and treatment by medical practicioners are the keys to the disability maelstrom. Good intention doctors unwitingly cast us into the maelstrom seemingly unaware, that they are the catalyst rather than the agency, workers comp professionals or other unseen demons.

Improper medical treatment can lead to malpractice complaints and payouts to the victim patients and regulatory oversight by licensing and peer boards.

While improper medical evaluation and reporting lead to metal, physical and financial ruin for the victims, the offending physicians and medical examiners keep the money in their pockets and go on to harm others without oversight. In many cases, their ineptitude is seen as protecting the employers when cases head to conflict instead of resolution. 

Many medical professionals by default are placed in the role of qualified medical examiner, when in fact they are not board certified or trained in evaluating and reporting in that capacity.

Some might argue that any physician is qualified.  That is simply not the case. Qualified medical examination serves many masters and many purposes. Disabled officers will be judged on pension, workers compensation  and treatment issues that are well outside the scope of doctor - patient - insurance company relationships.

I've encountered officers from all over the country that end up in a legal - medical quagmire that prevents adaquate medical care, strips them of their pensions and destroys their lives.

Officers, the most important report of your career will be the medical report when you get hit in the line of duty. 

Please share your experiences in "Reporting In the Line of Duty" by posting a comment.