An employee who is injured in the course of employment must report the injury to his/her employer and request medical treatment. The duty of the employer to provide medical treatment is absolute. The employer has the right to choose the medical provider.  N.J.S.A 34:15-15 provides that the employer shall furnish to the injured worker such medical, surgical and other treatment, and hospital service as shall be necessary to cure and relieve the worker of the effects of the injury.

If an employer refuses to provide medical treatment, the injured employee may seek treatment on his/her own. However, if it is an emergency situation and there isn’t an opportunity to notify the employer and request treatment, the employee may generally go to an emergency room for treatment.

The mere furnishing of medical treatment or the payment for medical treatment by the employer is not to be construed as an admission of liability.