We’ve all heard of getting a second opinion when it comes to medical care, but we rarely do it. Let’s face it: it’s hard enough to get some people into a doctor’s office the first time around. Medical visits are time consuming, stressful, and often costly, especially if you don’t have insurance, or your insurance won’t cover certain doctors or treatments.
The truth is, most of the time, a second opinion isn’t necessary. You have symptoms, you go to your doctor. She examines you; perhaps she orders some tests. You get a diagnosis, take the recommended treatment, and go on your way. Everything is fine.
But sometimes, it is actually worth the effort and expense to seek out a second opinion. On occasion, the decision to seek out a second opinion is more than worthwhile; it’s lifesaving. Let’s talk about when it makes sense to get a second opinion.
A second opinion is when a doctor other than a patient’s primary or diagnosing physician reviews the patient’s medical record, and perhaps examines the patient, to provide their own interpretation of the patient’s condition, prognosis, and best course of treatment.
The simple answer is that you should get a second opinion if you are not completely satisfied with the diagnosis or recommended treatment from your existing doctor. If something is confusing, it seems like your doctor missed something, or you disagree with their recommendations, by all means ask questions and try to understand their reasoning. If you are still uneasy or need more information, you may want to seek out another doctor.
You may want a second opinion in the following circumstances:
Anytime the stakes are high, it’s appropriate to get a second opinion. Some treatments are disfiguring or disabling, or have an extended recovery time. You may want to know if there are less drastic treatments available, or get a different perspective on the pros and cons of your various treatment options.
This is especially true if you have a rare or life-threatening condition. You may want to consult a specialist who deals with that condition more frequently than the diagnosing physician. A specialist may be able to tell you about more current and effective treatments.
If you have been given a serious diagnosis, especially when the recommended course of treatment will be difficult, you may want to be sure that you have been correctly diagnosed before undergoing that treatment.
Diagnosis of a serious illness is not the only time you may want a second opinion. On the flip side, if your doctor has diagnosed you with a relatively minor condition, but you suspect that there is something more going on, a second opinion can give you peace of mind—either that your ailment really is minor, or that you took steps to catch a more serious condition as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, misdiagnosis isn’t rare: a study referenced on AARP.com indicated that of patients seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic, only 12% were correctly diagnosed by their primary care providers; 20% were misdiagnosed, and 66% required some changes to their initial diagnoses.
Even if you are confident in the accuracy of your diagnosis, seeing a specialist for a second opinion may enable you to gain access to a clinical trial and potentially receive cutting-edge treatment. If you are near, or able to travel to, a university medical center, you may be able to help researchers and yourself at the same time.
Usually, people seek a second opinion before they receive treatment for a medical condition, but in some circumstances, it can also be helpful to get one after undergoing treatment if you experienced an unanticipated outcome. Getting a second opinion from an expert can help you understand whether your diagnosing and treating physicians adhered to the standard of care in your case.
For instance, a second physician may review test results or a radiology report and conclude that a reasonable doctor would have concluded from that information that a patient had condition X and that treatment Y was called for. If the original doctor failed to reach those conclusions, and the patient did not receive timely or appropriate treatment, that doctor could be liable for medical malpractice.
Sometimes, a second opinion isn’t possible before treatment because the situation is emergent and treatment needs to be administered immediately. But most of the time, it’s appropriate to get a second opinion just because you want one. More information about your medical conditions and options is a good thing, and doctors understand this.
A good doctor will want you to be confident about your treatment decisions, and most doctors are not offended or insulted if a patient requests their records so that they can get a second opinion. In fact, it may be a red flag if a doctor tries to talk you out of getting a second opinion.
To learn more about medical second opinions, or if you think you may have been a victim of medical malpractice, contact Huegli Fraser to schedule a consultation.
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