C. K. Smith, Jr. v. Goodall Buildings, Inc. Et Al.

C.K. Smith, Jr. (“Employee”) suffered a compensable shoulder injury and was awarded lifetime medical care pursuant to a settlement agreement with Goodall Buildings, Inc. (“Employer”). Employee suffered from long-term chronic pain because of his injury and was referred to Dr. Jeffrey Hazlewood for pain management. Upon entering the care of Dr. Hazlewood, Employee was already prescribed a high dosage of opioids to manage his pain. Dr. Hazlewood continued this treatment, slowly raising Employee’s prescription. However, Dr. Hazlewood began to have concerns about Employee forming an addiction, and new medical guidelines on pain management indicated that Employee was taking too high a dosage of opioids. Dr. Hazlewood recommended weaning Employee off opioids, or at least lowering his dosage. In response, Employee left the care of Dr. Hazlewood and filed a motion for a new panel of physicians. That motion was heard for the first time almost two years later. The trial court granted Employee’s motion and ordered Employer to provide a new panel of physicians. Employer appealed, arguing Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(j) precludes Employee from receiving a new panel of physicians. The appeal has been referred to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51. We reverse the judgment of the trial court.