Second Medical Opinions and When to Get One: Eight Key Situations

A second opinion can help lower your risk of experiencing a medical error or misdiagnosis, allow you to learn about all treatment options and their benefits and risks, connect you with physicians who have experience and success treating people with your condition, and provide you with peace of that mind that your diagnosis and treatment plan are appropriate.

A second medical opinion can also make a significant difference in your treatment, which can impact your outcome. The researchers at the Mayo Clinic discovered that approximately 88% of people who sought a second opinion for a complex medical condition at the Mayo Clinic received a new or refined diagnosis that changed their treatment plan. Within that group, 21% of the diagnoses were completely changed by the second opinion. Only 12% of patients in the study received confirmation that their diagnosis was correct and complete.

So, why don’t more people seek a second medical opinion? Some worry about delaying treatment, especially when they’ve been diagnosed with a serious condition like cancer. In most cases, however, there is no need to start treatment immediately after your diagnosis. Others worry that seeking a second opinion will offend their physician. In fact, most healthcare providers welcome a second opinion. If your physician actively discourages you from seeking one, that can be a sign that you should think about finding a new physician.

When should you get a second medical opinion?

While you can seek a second opinion for any condition, there are a number situations when it can be especially helpful:

• Your physician can’t provide a definitive diagnosis. Many diseases and conditions share similar symptoms. For example, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, shares symptoms with a host of other condition, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Lyme disease, and hyperthyroidism. That can make it difficult for your physician to diagnose your condition with certainty. Seeking a second medical opinion can help you tap the expertise of other specialists who may recommend additional testing to narrow down potential diagnoses or who may have specialized experience that helps them make a diagnosis.
• You’re diagnosed with a complex or rare health problem. Rare diseases affect fewer than 200,000 Americans, which means very few physicians, including specialists, are familiar with the symptoms. This lack of expertise and exposure to rare diseases can lead to your condition being misdiagnosed or the inability to reach a diagnosis. Complex health problems, such as advanced cancer or the need for an organ transplant, can also be difficult for many physicians to manage effectively. These conditions require physicians who have specialized fellowship training and extensive hands-on experience treating the condition, as well as a coordinated team approach to care, since the treatment team may need to include specialists from several disciplines. Many of these physicians are also leaders in research into these conditions and work to develop new, effective diagnostic tools and treatments.
• Your physician recommends surgery. Even if you choose to have a surgical procedure in the end, when you receive a recommendation for surgery, it’s wise to seek a second opinion. In most cases, surgery shouldn’t be the first treatment you try. For example, before undergoing spinal surgery for back pain, most physicians will recommend physical therapy, medications, spinal injections, and weight loss if needed. Seeking a second opinion can provide you with other options to try before choosing a surgical treatment.
• You’re diagnosed with cancer. A second opinion for people diagnosed with cancer may include a review of the pathology, which is part of how of the type and stage of cancer is determined and can affect your treatment recommendations. Seeking a second opinion from a pathologist who has specialty training in the type of cancer you face can improve the accuracy of your diagnosis. One found that of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer at a community hospital, 24.7% of the biopsies reviewed had a change in pathology reading, including changes in the grade of tumor and stage of cancer, with 15.8% of these patients receiving a different treatment recommendation, 11.8% of which were major changes. A second opinion can also lower your risk of being over or under treated. Having another oncologist review your case may also lead to other treatment options or access to clinical trials.
• You have more than one treatment option to choose from. For many conditions, there is more than one appropriate treatment. Non-aggressive prostate cancer, for example, can be treated medically, surgically, with radiation therapy, or with active surveillance, during which the cancer is closely monitored for any changes. Which treatment you choose can depend on a variety of factors, including your overall health and age and your treatment goals. Getting a second opinion provides the chance to gather information on the benefits and risks of all appropriate treatments so you can make an informed decision.
• Your current treatment is no longer working or causes severe side effects. If you’ve successfully been undergoing treatment for a condition, but the condition stops responding to the treatment, for example your cancer has started to progress in spite of your current chemotherapy or targeted therapy regimen, getting a second opinion may provide you with access to new treatment options available at a medical center of excellence or through a clinical trial. You may also want to seek a second opinion if your current treatment is causing severe side effects that are significantly impacting your quality of life or are causing other health problems.
• Your physician doesn’t have extensive experience treating people with your condition. If your physician has not completed specialty training, for example fellowship training, or only treats a few patients a year with the condition you’ve been diagnosed with, seek a second opinion from a physician who treats a higher volume of patients with the condition and who has completed specialty training. Your health advisor can connect you with experienced specialists for in-person or virtual second opinions.
• You and your physician aren’t a good fit. Your physician can be technically experienced and skilled, but if you’re uncomfortable talking with her or him or feel that your concerns and questions aren’t being taken seriously, getting a second opinion may help you connect with a physician with a similar level of expertise whose temperament and communication style are more in sync with yours. Honest, open communication is an essential part of your relationship with your physician so you need someone you trust, who is willing to take time to answer questions, and to educate you about your condition and your treatment options.

Connect with PinnacleCare

For more information about how PinnacleCare can support you with second medical opinions, connect with us today.

PinnacleCare is a member of the Sun Life Financial Inc. (“Sun Life”) family of companies. PinnacleCare and its employees do not diagnose medical conditions, recommend treatment options or provide medical care, and any information or services provided should not be considered medical advice. Any medical decisions should be made only after consultation with and at the direction of your medical provider. Any person or entity who provides health care services following a referral or other service provided does so independently and not as an agent or representative of PinnacleCare.

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