New Mexico § 52-1-45 - Compensation benefits; hernia; proof of claim; failure to be operated upon; examination; medical care

§ 52-1-45. Compensation benefits; hernia; proof of claim; failure to be operated upon; examination; medical care

A worker, in order to be entitled to compensation for a hernia, must clearly prove: A. that the hernia is of recent origin; B. that its appearance was accompanied by pain; C. that it was immediately preceded by some accidental strain suffered in the course

of the employment; and D. that it did not exist prior to the date of the alleged injury. If a worker, after establishing his right to compensation for a hernia as above

provided, elects to be operated upon, the operating fee and reasonable hospital expenses

shall be paid by the employer or his or its insurer. In case such worker elects not to be operated upon and the hernia becomes strangulated

in the future, the results from the strangulation shall not be compensated; provided,

before the worker is compelled to prove the facts above mentioned, in order to be

entitled to compensation for hernia, the employer must first prove that he caused

the worker to be physically examined, previous to his employment, for the existence

of a hernia; and, provided further, that where the employer has not made provisions

for and does not have at the service of the worker adequate surgical, hospital and

medical facilities and attention or fails to offer them during the period necessary,

the worker shall have the right to select the surgeon to operate upon him and the

hospital where the operation is to be performed and the worker is to be treated therefor.