Although NOT required to be signed to get Accident Benefits after a car accident the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, ICBC, will often ask the injury claimant to sign a medical consent form releasing medical information to ICBC. The standard ICBC authorization to provide medical information authorizes every medical practitioner to release to ICBC any and all records, x-rays, information and evidence in their possession. The signed medical authorization indicates that information collected with the authorization form is done in accordance with the BC privacy law. ICBC may also want the claimant to sign an Authorization to Provide Medication information from MSP, the Medical Services Plan, usually in the form of a medical history printout after being injured in a car accident.
Once the injury claimant has signed the medical consent form the ICBC adjuster will have the right to send a letter to the family doctor and MSP indicating that the injury claimant is making a claim with ICBC for injuries resulting from the motor vehicle accident, and ask for copies of complete clinical records, including any consultation reports. The signing of the medical authorization is potentially the beginning of problems for the personal injury claim as irrelevant and sometime embarrassing documents can be released.
I am a personal injury lawyer helping injury claimants since 1995 from Vancouver and can say that signing medical consent forms gratuitously and without legal advice can negatively impact the successful resolution of a good case. Three excellent reasons not to sign these medical authorizations:(1) revealing embarrassing and irrelevant information will increase the length and expense of the litigation process; (2) you lose control over when ICBC gets your personal medical information; and (3) the documentation will be kept by ICBC and used to defend other future claims.
You should know that regardless of your consent ICBC has been provided powers under the law to force doctors to provide medical information. It is therefore unnecessary for an ICBC injury claimant to provide a blanket consent for ICBC to obtain their medical history. To understand more about ICBC accident benefits watch our video about no-fault ICBC injury benefits.
There may be a few circumstances however where giving ICBC a signed medical authorization could be helpful for your case: (1) You have delayed in making your clam and ICBC has no notice of you injury; (2) ICBC’s MSP Medical Consent Form (CL237E) states that if the adjuster cannot obtain this information that it could delay payment payment of benefits or settlement of the injury claim. If this threat of delay is accepted then there is some value in signing consent forms and these forms should be signed after consulting a personal injury lawyer and; (3) You have no medical history.
As a personal injury lawyer it is my policy to revoke all previous authorizations signed by my client, and to provide ICBC with medical documentation required to prove the claim or the obtain benefits that are being claimed. Talk to a personal injury lawyer about their policy of disclosure before hiring the lawyer.
Posted by Mr. Renn A. Holness, B.A., LL.B.
Vancouver Personal Injury Lawyers | Holness & Small Law Group
Vancouver Injury Lawyers
Do I have to sign ICBC medical consent forms? Medical Authorization and Consent Forms Explained
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I was crossing a crosswalk on my signal and was hit by a car. I have injuries. I have a physical disability and use a wheelchair which is complicating things for me.
Today I received a form from ICBC requesting I authorize them to examine ALL my medical records. So far I have been able to deal with ICBC myself however I am reluctant to do so with the medical consent form seeing as my medical history prior to the accident seems to me, to be irrelevant. Should I sign their medical consent forms or not? I do not know what to do.
I live in Victoria BC so I am not sure if this is your territory.
Hi Brian, Do not sign blanket medical authorizations for ICBC. Once you have started your claim (completed an accident claim form) ICBC has the power to obtain the relevant history, diagnosis and treatment recommendations from your doctors.
I wish I knew this earlier.
I signed the papers and I had previous disability status and now my ICBC adjuster is using that against me. He keeps trying to intimidate and bully me. 🙁
How many forms need sign for ICBC? what Forms must be sign by ICBC?
thanks you help.
You must complete an Insurance Claim Application (form CL-22) as soon as possible or within 90 days of the accident. This can be delayed if it causes no prejudice to ICBC, but get this done ASAP. ICBC is not required to sign any forms.
Thank you help. very appreciate
Thank you for writing this article. It is very informative and has helped me curate my own response to ICBC.
Crash resulting in fractured vertebrae, ICBC is playing games.
Hi there,
How would one go about revoking authorization for medical records?
The best way to revoke an authorization previously given to an insurance company is to do so in writing. This ensures there is a clear, documented record of your decision and the insurance company is formally notified of the revocation. Your written revocation should include the following wording:
“I hereby revoke any and all prior authorizations I have provided to [Insurance Company Name], including any consent to disclose or obtain my personal or medical information. This revocation is effective immediately and applies to all individuals and institutions who may have relied on the prior authorization.”
Be sure to:
Include your full name, date of birth, and policy or claim number (if applicable),
Sign and date the revocation,
Send the letter to the insurance company’s appropriate department (e.g., claims or privacy office),
Retain a copy for your records, and
Consider sending it via registered mail or with delivery confirmation to ensure receipt.
What are the ramifications of revoking authorization from Icbc?
There should be no ramifications as ICBC has a duty to obtain the information, in their prescribed form ( eg CL-19 medical report), from the healthcare provider directly if you are an insured that is making a claim for benefits.
ICBC is having me sign new forms, 18 months after my accident/initiation of my claim. I signed a form in April 2024 saying that medical information relevant to the injuries could be shared, and a new claims adjuster told me she couldn’t find one in my file in June 2025 so I signed another one. My adjuster has been changed again now, and she’s telling me that I have to sign a consent to release all medical records extending to 8 months prior to the accident. I told her I wasn’t going to consent to releasing records unrelated to the accident, and she said they were essential, and necessary to determine and allocate funds for my injuries.
Can they stop providing treatment if I don’t release full records? They’re already trying to stop treatment because they say I should be better by now and I’ve had too many treatments for what is normal. My doctor and allied health professionals think I still need the treatments.
Once you make a claim for benefits, it’s ICBCs responsibility to properly investigate the claim,including obtaining medical infirmation in the prescribed form. ICBC is not permitted to collect records unreleated to your claim, despite what the adjuster may say. Demand the adjuster obtain the proper treatment plan or report to have your treament considred for approval