How often do you seek out a second opinion after receiving a new diagnosis or treatment recommendation from your physician? While most of us trust the judgment of our physicians and rarely question their recommendations, we are now learning that it may be important to do so. A new study from the Mayo Clinic, published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, suggests getting a second opinion when you’re given a medical diagnosis can actually prevent unnecessary treatments and could save your life. In fact, according to the new data, 1 out of 5 patients who gets a second opinion was incorrectly diagnosed in the first place.
The study authors reviewed the medical records of 286 patients who were referred from primary care providers to Mayo Clinic’s General Internal Medicine Division from 2009 to 2010. They found that as many as 88 percent of patients seeking a second opinion went home with a new or refined diagnosis. Twenty-one percent received a “distinctly different” diagnosis.
The results suggest that only 12 percent of patients receive confirmation that the original diagnosis was complete and correct. And 66 percent of patients were given a more refined or modified diagnosis after the second opinion.
[See: Creative Ways Hospitals Reach Diverse Populations.]
So, What’s the Real Value of a Second Opinion?
Often, a physician will be confronted with an unusual set of symptoms and may not be as familiar with a particular disease process. By getting a second opinion, you allow others to also consider your clinical situation. A second opinion may result in quicker access to appropriate therapy and may help avoid unnecessary (and potentially risky) tests or treatments. Most physicians will welcome a second opinion — as doctors, we’re charged with providing the very best care for our patients, and we often find that more information is better. A second opinion allows others to evaluate you with a fresh perspective and can eliminate any bias or other confounding factors from a diagnosis. There’s really no downside; a cost analysis performed by the Mayo Clinic researchers found that the second opinion may have added some additional fixed costs to the treatment total, but the avoidance of unnecessary tests and treatments due to an incorrect diagnosis justified these expenditures. Costs were higher if a completely new diagnosis was found when compared to a refined or confirmed diagnosis. Ultimately, avoiding a negative outcome or incorrect treatment is far more important for patients.
[See: How to Be a Good Patient Wingman.]
When and How to Ask for a Second Opinion
It’s important to develop a productive working relationship with any physician or medical provider you’re seeing. Make sure you’re engaged in your own health care and that you understand all of your medical problems. Ask your doctor what his or her differential diagnosis (a list of possible causes) is for your particular set of symptoms. By developing a partnership with your doctor, it will be much easier to ask for a referral for a second opinion.
Key reasons to seek a second opinion include:
— If your diagnosis appears to be rare or ambiguous.
— If the diagnosis requires an invasive procedure or a test with inherent risk.
— If you begin a treatment program and are not getting any better (or your symptoms worsen).
— If you’re experiencing significant side effects on a particular therapy.
[See: 10 Lessons From Empowered Patients.]
Where to Go for a Second Opinion
A good bet for a second opinion is always an academic medical center; these have very specialized physicians, and some are experts in a single disease. By working with a physician who is a global thought leader in a particular discipline, you are more likely to get an accurate diagnosis and have access to cutting-edge therapies. It’s important to do your research and find out where the best places to go are for your particular potential diagnosis. Your physician can help direct you — most have ties to academic medical centers and are able to call on old colleagues or mentors to help get you referred to the right place. The internet can also be a very reliable source for obtaining a second opinion. Disease-specific websites and chat rooms, as well as online patient communities like Patients Like Me, can be fantastic sources of information.
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Getting a Second Opinion Could Save Your Life originally appeared on usnews.com
