Elective surgery for an unrelated condition is not normally permitted during hospitalization for an industrial condition. Under some circumstances unrelated elective surgery may be permitted through prior agreement and approval by the department provided the unrelated surgery is not more extensive than the procedure for the industrial condition. The requesting doctor must submit a written request and identify which services are needed due to the industrial injury and which are needed due to unrelated conditions, along with an estimate of what effect, if any, the unrelated surgery will have on the accepted conditions and recovery time from surgery.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
51.04.020(4),
51.04.030, and
51.16.120(3). WSR 81-01-100 (Order 80-29), § 296-20-081, filed 12/23/80, effective 3/1/81; Order 70-12, § 296-20-081, filed 12/1/70, effective 1/1/71. Formerly WAC 296-20-095.]