(a) In any civil action, in any probate appeal, or in any administrative appeal where the judicial authority finds it reasonably probable that evidence outside the record will be required, in which the mental or physical condition of a party, or of a person in the custody of or under the legal control of a party, is material to the prosecution or defense of said action, the judicial authority may order the party to submit to a physical or mental examination by a physician or to produce for examination the person in the party’s custody or legal control.
Section 13-11.—Physical or Mental Examination
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lets a court order a party, or a person in that party’s custody or legal control, to undergo a physical or mental examination when the person’s condition is at issue in the case, and it governs how examination reports get shared.
Full Text of Section 13-11
(b) In the case of an action to recover damages for personal injuries, any party adverse to the plaintiff may file and serve in accordance with Sections 10-12 through 10-17 a request that the plaintiff submit to a physical or mental examination at the expense of the requesting party. That request shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be made. Any such request shall be complied with by the plaintiff unless, within ten days from the filing of the request, the plaintiff files in writing an objection thereto specifying to which portions of said request objection is made and the reasons for said objection. The objection shall be placed on the short calendar list upon the filing thereof. The judicial authority may make such order as is just in connection with the request. No plaintiff shall be compelled to undergo a physical or mental examination by any physician to whom he or she objects in writing.
(c) In any other case, such order may be made only on motion for good cause shown to be heard at short calendar. The motion shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be made.
(d) If requested by the party against whom an order is made under this rule, or who has voluntarily agreed to an examination, the party causing the examination to be made shall deliver to such party a copy of a written report of the examining physician, setting out the findings, including results of all tests made, diagnoses and conclusions, together with like reports of all earlier examinations of the same condition. After delivery, the party causing the examination shall be entitled upon request to receive from the party against whom the order is made, or who has voluntarily agreed to an examination, a like report of any examination, previously or thereafter made, of the same condition. The judicial authority on motion may make an order requiring delivery by a party of a report on such terms as are just, and if a physician fails or refuses to make a report, the judicial authority may exclude the physician’s testimony if offered at the trial.
(e) By requesting and obtaining a report of the examination so ordered or by taking the deposition of the examiner, the party examined waives, in that action, or in any other action involving the same controversy, any privilege he or she may have regarding the testimony of every other person who has examined or may thereafter examine the party in respect to the same mental or physical condition.
(f) This section does not preclude discovery of a report of an examining physician or the taking of a deposition of the physician in accordance with the provisions of any other section of this chapter.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 229.) (Amended June 21, 2010, to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 13-11 applies when a party’s mental or physical condition, or that of someone in the party’s custody or legal control, matters to the case. In a personal injury action, any party adverse to the plaintiff may request an examination at its own expense, specifying the time, place, manner, conditions, scope, and examiner. The plaintiff must comply unless he or she files a written objection within ten days, stating which parts of the request are objected to and why; that objection goes on the short calendar, and the court decides. No plaintiff can be forced to be examined by a physician he or she has objected to in writing. In any other kind of case, an examination can only be ordered on a motion showing good cause, heard at short calendar, and the motion must likewise specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope, and examiner.
Once an examination happens, the examined party can request a copy of the written report, including test results, diagnoses, and conclusions, along with reports of earlier examinations of the same condition. After that, the party who arranged the examination can request a like report of any examination of the same condition performed on the other party. The court can order delivery of a report on fair terms, and if a physician refuses to prepare one, the court may exclude that physician’s trial testimony. Requesting and getting a report, or deposing the examiner, waives any privilege the examined party might otherwise claim over testimony from anyone else who has examined the same condition. None of this blocks discovery of an examining physician’s report or deposition under any other section of the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a defendant force a plaintiff to undergo a medical exam in a Connecticut personal injury case?
A defendant adverse to the plaintiff can request an examination at its own expense, and the plaintiff must comply unless he or she files a written objection within ten days stating what is objected to and why.
Can a plaintiff refuse a specific examining physician?
Yes. No plaintiff can be compelled to undergo an examination by a physician to whom he or she has objected in writing.
What happens outside personal injury cases?
An examination can only be ordered on a motion showing good cause, heard at short calendar, and the motion must specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope, and examiner.
Do I have to share the exam results with the other side?
If requested, the party who arranged the examination must deliver a copy of the written report, and in exchange becomes entitled to a like report of any examination of the same condition performed on the other party.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 13-11). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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