[Penhead]

Recently I injured my knee at work and put off going to the doctor for 1 1/2 weeks, due to the whole family being here over the holidays. It's better, but I was thinking about going to a specialist to make sure nothing is permanently messed up, ya know, due to the fact my foot was sideways for a week, popped, and now I can walk. The problem is, during the holidays I smoked a lil pot with a few members of my family. Today I heard that there is automatic drug testing for all North Carolina WC initial claims. Is this true? Did I just screw myself out of a doctor's visit, and any possible benefits? Or, should I just put it off a few weeks more until I know I'd pass? Unfortunately, the only substance I EVER touch is the one that hangs around past 3 or 4 days to show up on tests. ARGH...

doesn't seem right that illegal aliens get free medical care, but I smoke a joint with a few people I haven't seen in 2 years and I could miss out on my WC claim and possibly get fired.

Any help with info would be GREATLY APPRECIATED... ty, and,
NO, I'm not a closet drug addict looking for a free ride on the system...lol

[Mr. Knowitall]

Illegal aliens don't get free medical care; and that has nothing to do with illegal drug use. I don't see anything which compels drug tests for any worker's comp applicant, but I don't see anything which would prevent it. (Look for yourself here.)

[las365]

Waiting a week and a half or two weeks after the date of injury to file a WC claim is almost always going to create suspicion that your injury did not occur at work. Do you have any witnesses, or did you tell your manager the day it happened that you had gotten hurt? Weigh the odds of your claim being denied anyway.

A drug test due to a WC claim is usually done on the date of the incident to determine whether the injured employee was impaired at the time and thus give the WC carrier an argument that he is responsible or partially responsible for his own injury. Testing positive for pot two weeks after your injury date isn't going to prove that yuo were impaired at the time it happened, but it gives the WC carrier something to argue about.

Whether you get fired for testing positive for pot is another matter entirely unrelated to your potential WC claim.

The choice is yours. Make the claim and take the risk, or don't.

doesn't seem right that illegal aliens get free medical care, but I smoke a joint with a few people I haven't seen in 2 years and I could miss out on my WC claim and possibly get fired.

This is a truly foolish statement.