Part I · Rule 60: Physical and Mental Examination of Persons · Last amended January 1, 1997 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 60.01 lets a court order a party, or someone in that party’s custody or control, to undergo a physical, mental, blood, or vocational examination when that condition is in controversy, and sets rules for exchanging the resulting reports.
(1)In an action in which the mental condition, physical condition, or blood relationship of a party, or of an agent or a person in the custody or under the legal control of a party, is in controversy, the court in which the action is pending may order the party (i) to submit to physical, mental, or blood examinations by physicians or other appropriate licensed health care providers or (ii) to produce for such examinations such party’s agent or the person in such party’s custody or legal control.
(2)In any action in which the vocational ability of a party, or of an agent or a person in the custody or under the legal control of a party, is in controversy, the court in which the action is pending may order the party (i) to submit to evaluation by vocational rehabilitation professionals or (ii) to produce for such evaluation such party’s agent or the person in such party’s custody or legal control.
(3)Any order under this Rule 60.01(a) may be made only on motion for good cause shown, upon notice to the person against whom the order is sought and to all other parties. Such order shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope of, and identity of each person conducting the examination or evaluation. The court may, as a condition of its order, require the party requesting the order to reimburse the person who is the subject of the order for that person’s reasonable round trip expenses in traveling more than sixty miles from the place of residence to the place of examination or evaluation.
(1)If requested by the party against whom an order is made under Rule 60.01(a) or the person who is the subject of the order, the party obtaining the order shall deliver to the requesting person or party a copy of a detailed written report of the examiner or evaluator setting out the findings, including results of all tests made, diagnosis, and conclusions, together with like reports of all earlier examinations or evaluations of the same condition. After delivery, the party obtaining the order shall be entitled upon request to receive from the party against whom the order is made a like report of any examination or evaluation, previously or thereafter made, of the same condition, unless, in the case of a report of examination or evaluation of a person not a party, the party shows an inability to obtain it. The court on motion shall make an order against a party requiring delivery of a report on such terms as are just; if an examiner or evaluator fails or refuses to make a report, the court may exclude the examiner’s or evaluator’s testimony if offered at the trial.
(2)By requesting and obtaining a report of the examination or evaluation so ordered or by taking the deposition of the examiner or evaluator, the person examined or evaluated waives any privilege the person may have in that action, or any other involving the same controversy, regarding the testimony of every other person who has examined or evaluated or may thereafter examine or evaluate the person in respect of the same mental condition, physical condition, vocational ability, or blood relationship.
(3)This Rule 60.01(b) applies to examinations made by agreement of the parties, unless the agreement expressly provides otherwise, and does not preclude discovery of a report of or the taking of a deposition of the examiner or evaluator in accordance with the provisions of any other rule.
Rule 60.01 addresses a discovery tool that reaches a person’s body or abilities instead of their documents or testimony. When a party’s mental condition, physical condition, blood relationship, or the same condition of an agent or a person in that party’s custody or legal control is in controversy, the court may order that party to submit to an examination by a physician or other appropriately licensed health care provider, or to produce the agent or person in their custody for that examination. A parallel provision covers vocational ability: when that is in controversy, the court can order an evaluation by vocational rehabilitation professionals, again reaching either the party or someone in that party’s custody or control. Either order requires a motion showing good cause, notice to the person examined and every other party, and specifics about the time, place, manner, conditions, scope, and identity of the examiner, and the court can condition the order on reimbursing the examined person’s reasonable round-trip travel expenses if the examination site is more than 60 miles from home.
Once the examination happens, the person examined or the party against whom the order was made can request a detailed written report of the findings, test results, diagnosis, and conclusions, along with reports of any earlier examinations of the same condition. After delivering that report, the party who obtained the examination is entitled to a like report from the other side covering any examination or evaluation of the same condition, unless that other side cannot obtain it. A court can compel delivery of a report on just terms, and if the examiner refuses to produce one, the court can exclude that examiner’s trial testimony.
Requesting or obtaining the report, or deposing the examiner, carries a real cost: it waives whatever privilege the examined person had regarding testimony from every other person who has examined or evaluated, or later examines or evaluates, the same mental condition, physical condition, vocational ability, or blood relationship, in that action or any other one involving the same controversy. The rule applies equally to examinations the parties arrange by agreement, unless their agreement says otherwise, and it does not stop a party from separately discovering an examiner’s report or deposing the examiner under any other applicable rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a court order a physical or mental examination in a Missouri case?
When that condition — or a blood relationship — of a party, or of an agent or person in that party’s custody or legal control, is in controversy, and the court finds good cause on a motion with notice to everyone affected.
Does this rule cover vocational evaluations too?
Yes, a separate provision lets the court order an evaluation by vocational rehabilitation professionals when a party’s vocational ability, or that of an agent or person in their custody, is in controversy.
Can I get a copy of the examiner’s report?
Yes, if you request it, you are entitled to a detailed written report of the findings, test results, diagnosis, and conclusions, along with reports of any earlier examinations of the same condition.
What do I give up by requesting the examiner’s report?
Requesting or obtaining it, or deposing the examiner, waives your privilege regarding testimony from every other person who has examined or evaluated the same condition, in that case or any other one involving the same controversy.
What happens if the examiner refuses to write a report?
The court can exclude that examiner’s testimony if it is offered at trial.
Does this rule apply if the parties agreed to the examination instead of getting a court order?
Yes, unless the parties’ agreement expressly says otherwise.
Who pays for travel to the examination?
The court can require the party who obtained the order to reimburse the examined person’s reasonable round-trip travel expenses if the examination site is more than 60 miles from that person’s residence.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:independent medical examination missouriphysical mental examination rule 60.01vocational evaluation missouri discoveryIME missouri civil procedure