A second opinion is an important part of becoming educated about your disease and your treatment options. The more you can learn about your diagnosis and your treatment options, the better chance you have of receiving the most appropriate treatment. Continued medical advances have made diseases more treatable than in the past, but there are also many more treatment options and more complicated procedures. 

What is a Second Opinion?

A second opinion is a review of the diagnosis and the treatment recommendations of the physician who is treating the disease by another, independent physician. Either the patient or the primary physician can initiate the process of getting a second opinion. Usually, patients obtain a second opinion after being referred to a second physician or to a special team of experts, called a multidisciplinary team. 

Second opinions are more likely to be comprehensive, or inclusive of every possible perspective. 

Do I Need Medical Second Opinion?

A second opinion is part of the education process that is critical for patients. The treatment of aliments has evolved tremendously in the recent past. Second opinion provides the opportunity to get information from someone other than the physician who will be directing treatment, which is usually the main source of information for most patients. Second opinions are a common practice in any area of medicine that is complex and that has multiple treatment options available.