PI lawyers banned from hosting client medicals in their offices amid privacy fears

MedCo warns injury exams must never be done at lawyers’ offices, even after just one known breach

Personal injury lawyers have been issued a firm warning: do not carry out client medical examinations in your own offices. The directive comes from MedCo, the official body tasked with overseeing medical assessments in low-value personal injury claims, which has just published a new set of stringent guidelines.

The updated rules explicitly outlaw law firm offices as examination venues. MedCo insists that all client assessments must occur in an environment deemed both neutral and professional. It’s a direct response to at least one known case where a defendant raised concerns after a medical exam was conducted inside a legal office. Though the incident appears isolated, the reaction signals zero tolerance.

“Examinations must take place in locations that are confidential, private, safe, secure and regarded as a professional environment,” MedCo said. “The examination location must be neutral and examinations should never take place at the offices of the instructing party or any other premises belonging to the instructing party.”

With Covid-era remote consultations now phased out, physical assessments are back to being mandatory—but not just anywhere. The expectation is that clinics, GP surgeries, or medical centres serve as the gold standard. In some cases, hotel conference rooms, suitable private consulting spaces, or dedicated office rooms may be used. But hotel bedrooms, commercial units, and private homes without medical setups are strictly forbidden.

The guidelines are equally clear on how these examinations must be conducted. A cap of 35 assessments per day has been set, though MedCo stresses this should not be treated as a target. Experts must spend at least 15 minutes with each claimant face-to-face, but that’s the floor, not the ceiling.

MedCo has confirmed that questionnaires remain a permitted part of the process. However, they cannot replace essential discussions on injuries sustained, treatments received, or how the incident has affected work and everyday life. These must all be verified through direct interaction.

The system MedCo oversees has been a cornerstone of personal injury regulation since its introduction in 2015, intended to curb excessive claims costs. It gained even more significance in 2021 following the Civil Liability Act, which requires every claim to be supported by a medical evaluation.

While most firms have long adjusted to MedCo’s framework, this latest clarification serves as a stark reminder that some boundaries cannot be blurred. Hosting an exam in a solicitor’s office—even once—is now enough to warrant national attention and rewritten guidance.

The message is unambiguous: professional distance matters. Allowing medical assessments on legal premises risks the perception of bias or impropriety. Even if convenient or cost-saving, such shortcuts can jeopardise the integrity of the personal injury process.

For firms handling these types of claims, the updated guidance represents more than just a compliance checklist—it’s a reputational line in the sand. Any breach, no matter how small, risks undermining the credibility of the claimant, the solicitor, and the expert involved.

In an environment increasingly scrutinised for inflated or fraudulent claims, adherence to these professional boundaries is no longer negotiable. MedCo’s intervention may have stemmed from a single reported case, but its consequences will ripple across the entire industry.