When second opinion matters
By Dr. Troy Sullivan, Consultant in Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Singapore
When patients are faced with difficult health circumstances and have to make decisions that will affect their lives, it is common for them to have that tingling feeling that one doctor’s opinion might not be enough. Should I seek a second opinion? How do I can it without being seen as questioning his or her expertise?
This does not mean that patients doubt the doctors – they do have very big decisions to make!
Decision making is influenced by experiences and the knowledge we have. This also applies to medical decisions. When handling the same case, one doctor may opt for the “observe and wait” approach to avoid unnecessary overtreatment, while another might want to go ahead with treatment as soon as possible before complications appear. There is no one absolute solution when it comes to treatment decisions as we can only decide based on experience and the current research / evidence we have on hand. Therefore I believe that a second opinion is important in helping a patient make an informed decision.
Getting another opinion can help reassure diagnosis and treatment methods from a different perspective. It is also helpful when the decision is a major, life-changing procedure. If two different doctors have the same recommendation, the second opinion can be reassuring.
From a medical standpoint, second opinions can also help confirm initial findings or even prevent misdiagnosis. In a Johns Hopkins study conducted on 6,000 cancer patients, 1.4% of them who sought a second opinion after a tumour biopsy had received a wrong diagnosis.
Based on my experience, patients seek second opinions for all types of medical questions – from treatment for a minor headache to confirmation of a diagnosis such as cancer. A second opinion is frequently sought for cases of elective surgery, which are operations that are not as urgent. The patient will have more time to think through the options, discuss with loved ones, and make more informed choice about the course of treatment.
Some patients may even ask the doctor to recommend a different healthcare professional to seek consultation from, and most of the time, doctors are willing to share their contacts. That being said, different doctors react differently when patients share that they would like to look for a second opinion. If the doctor actually gets upset at you for it, this could be an indication that the doctor might not appreciate a different opinion. I always think that it’s better to be honest right from the get go. Tell your doctor upfront that you will want to seek a second opinion just to get all the bases covered, and ask him or her for advice. The decision-making process is not an easy one, and always remember that your doctor is here to help you at every step of the way, in one way or another.
When you go for a second consultation, keep in mind that it’s best to furnish the doctor with all available information of your health and medical records before the consultation starts. This includes giving a detailed breakdown of what the first doctor had recommended, and share why you feel the need to have a second opinion. Do not hide information just because you want to test if they are able to diagnose your condition and recommend the same treatment as your first doctor. It will only hurt the care that you receive and end up wasting your efforts and time.
What happens if the second opinion differs from the first? I’d recommend that you go back to the first doctor and present the second opinion. Communication is key in medicine, and it might be even better if your doctors speak directly with each other to discuss the best treatment approach. Ultimately, you are the only person who can make the final call to proceed, so do not be afraid to speak up when you have any doubt. You need to feel comfortable to raise questions, no matter how insignificant you may think they are.
Remember, your doctor is your medical partner, and all doctors should have one common goal in mind – that is to help you get better.
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
