Second opinion: what is it and why is it important?

Everyone can make mistakes, doctors included. According to WHO estimates, 5-7 patients die every day from medical errors in Ukraine, and 25-30 people become disabled. Although the relevant statistics are not kept in our country. In addition, we do not have clear criteria that would classify doctors’ mistakes.

Most medical errors in Ukraine occur due to low quality or lack of pharmaceuticals, outdated medical equipment, and not due to the influence of the human factor. However, misdiagnosis or mistreatment is not uncommon.

Therefore, an increasing number of patients are resorting to such a service as a second opinion. It provides for the review of medical documents and appointments of the attending physician by an independent expert. The benefits of this new practice cannot be overestimated. Whether a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, diagnosed with a rare disease, or recommended for complex surgery, getting information from an independent expert has a number of benefits. The second opinion helps to confirm or, on the contrary, refute the diagnosis, make sure that the prescribed therapy is correct or incorrect, ask the doctor any additional questions and give the patient confidence that he has done everything possible to preserve his own health.

How are things going with a second opinion abroad?

In foreign clinics, a second opinion is a common practice. Enise Chapgar, a breast surgeon and one of the many Yale School of Medicine specialists who regularly provide second opinions, put it this way: “When making any major decision, like buying a house or a car, choosing a college for a child, we like to consider all possible options. Why, when it comes to our health, should we rely on the opinion of only one specialist?

The opinion of Yale doctors is confirmed by scientific research. One of them was carried out by scientists from the Mayo Clinic in 2017. They found that in 21% of cases, patients who received a second opinion from the doctors of the medical center were given a completely different diagnosis. At the same time, in 66% of patients, the diagnosis was considered only partially correct and clarified by a new doctor. Enis Chapgar commented on these figures: “It can often be difficult for a doctor to make a correct diagnosis, especially when it comes to complex or rare diseases. In addition, there are currently many different treatment strategies that not all doctors know about.”

When should you seek a second opinion?

You don’t need a special reason to get a second opinion. The patient can use this service at any time they wish. However, there are circumstances in which the usefulness of an independent expert’s opinion is particularly important.

• The treatment prescribed by the doctor is ineffective. If a patient is undergoing treatment and is not getting better, it may be worth seeking a second opinion. Many people are forced to live with chronic diseases or endure severe pain due to the fact that the treatment prescribed by the doctor turned out to be wrong.
• A rare disease is diagnosed. According to the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 5% of the population (4,533 people) live with the so-called orphan (rare) diseases. Officially, 256 such nosological units are registered in our country. Due to the lack of clinical research, rare diseases are very difficult to diagnose: on average, it takes patients 2–4 years to make a correct diagnosis. The second opinion often becomes decisive in the diagnosis and choice of tactics for the treatment of orphan diseases.
• An operation or treatment that has serious side effects is scheduled. You should not agree to a complex operation or therapy associated with the risk of complications without considering other options. Not always the most aggressive methods are the key to a successful recovery. In some cases, complications or side effects can reduce the patient’s quality of life so much that it outweighs the possible therapeutic benefit.
• A malignant tumor is diagnosed. With such a serious diagnosis as cancer, you should definitely get additional information from an independent expert. Currently, new methods of treating oncological diseases are emerging, which not all doctors know about. Especially if the patient has to be treated in a small town. In this case, we are not talking about the incompetence of doctors working on the periphery. It’s just that hospitals operating on the basis of medical universities or large multidisciplinary clinics in large cities have access to more modern methods of diagnosing and treating oncological diseases.

MedTour experience. We were approached by a patient (whose name and exact diagnosis we do not disclose for confidentiality reasons). The woman was diagnosed with gynecological cancer. The doctor who saw her said that the operation in her case is impossible, and further treatment does not make sense. The patient decided to get a second opinion from an independent oncologist at one of the leading Kyiv clinics. The doctor reviewed the results of the diagnosis and came to the conclusion that a course of chemotherapy was needed, after which the tumor could be removed surgically. Thus, the second opinion helped the woman gain hope for recovery.

Additional circumstances in which it is worth asking an independent expert for a second opinion:

• the attending physician doubts the diagnosis;
• the patient has several health problems at once;
• the prescribed treatment is risky, controversial, or experimental;
• there is a choice between several treatment options that vary significantly in cost;
• the patient has reason not to trust his doctor.

In general, a person can get a second opinion if they are concerned about any point in their diagnosis or treatment.

Key points to remember about a second opinion

• A second opinion is your right as a patient.
• Almost every doctor consults with his colleagues when he faces a serious medical problem.
• Requesting a second opinion should not offend your doctor if he is a true professional.
• Getting a second opinion gives you confidence that everything possible has been done to make the treatment successful.
• The choice of a doctor who provides a second opinion should be taken responsibly.

How to get a second opinion?

The first step is to choose the right doctor. He should specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease that the patient suffers from. Medical coordinators of the MedTour company cooperate with a large number of doctors from leading Ukrainian and foreign clinics. They will help you choose the most appropriate specialist according to the specific problem of the patient.

Currently, to get a second opinion, it is not necessary to undergo a second diagnostic examination. It is enough to provide an independent expert with the necessary medical documents and diagnostic results. With the modern development and availability of communication tools, they can be sent in any messenger or by email. The more medical information the second opinion doctor has, the more accurate the second opinion will be.

Before contacting a doctor, you need to collect:

• extracts from the medical record regarding the treatment of the current disease;
• extracts on the performed surgical interventions, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other methods of treatment;
• treatment plan prescribed by the attending physician;
• results of laboratory tests;
• recording the results of CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET-CT, x-rays;
• histological glasses;
• a list of all medications taken;
• any other medical documentation that may help in making a diagnosis or correcting the prescribed therapy;
• a list of questions to ask your doctor.
• appointments – drugs, doses (to confirm or revise therapy);

The doctor will analyze the information received and issue his own conclusion. In some cases, he may recommend additional diagnostic tests.

Many patients, especially those who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, want to start treatment as soon as possible. This is easy to understand, given that time can be of the essence in diseases such as cancer. However, it is also worth thinking about how much effort, money and time can be lost if the diagnosis is incorrect or the therapeutic tactics are chosen incorrectly. Obtaining a second opinion will help you avoid medical errors and gain full information about available treatment options.

If you need a second opinion, fill out the online form or call one of the phone numbers listed on the site. Our medical coordinators will contact you shortly. They will help you choose the most qualified and experienced specialist, tell you what medical documents to collect and how soon the result will be ready.

Sources of:    yalemedicine.org mayoclinic.org verywellhealth.com my.clevelandclinic.org