So, you’ve been in an accident. After speaking with one doctor, they decide your best route for care is surgery. Should you go ahead with the surgery, or should you ask for a second opinion? In the case of a non-emergent situation, a second opinion should reign high on your list of things you need. Second opinions can totally change your route of care or make you feel more comfortable with the first doctor’s recommendations. We will discuss the second opinion importance in this article.
Second Opinion Importance: Avoiding Issue
Avoiding Misdiagnosis
First of all, human error is common. It’s found in coffee shops, in accounting records, and unfortunately, in hospitals. The second opinion importance here is avoiding a misdiagnosis. Most doctors will suggest you get a second opinion. A second opinion is a second set of eyes. Making sure everyone is on the same page, and one doctor is not missing something important in your records.
More Than One Way
Second opinion importances comes into play here because one treatment might sound good for one doctor who is eager to go into surgery. Other doctors might look into more rehabilitation methods before they suggest surgery. As the old saying goes, there’s multiple ways to skin a cat. Your second opinion’s route of care might sound better to you.
Diagnosis is Not the End All, Be All
If you’ve been diagnosed with a disease, the second opinion importance comes into play here. Several diseases share symptoms, which can make proper diagnosing difficult. A second opinion can see a more basic form of care sometimes, which will help your recovery.
Is it rude to ask for a second opinion?
No. Your recovery is most important, and that starts at the treatment. Ask your doctor for the name of another expert. He/she will understand the second opinion importance for you, and will likely expect that you get one. Your doctor should give you the name of another specialist with whom he/she is not closely connected.
Second opinion importance is high, but don’t stop there! If you still aren’t comfortable, consider asking a third opinion. Try finding these opinions in doctors who have vast experience in the field where the problem is. Lastly, if you can’t find someone, then you can call your insurance or look at other nearby university hospitals.