Importance of Second Opinion in making better health decisions

Second opinions are given by doctors when patients are in critical condition and cannot decide what treatment to receive. The treatment plan may be life-saving or it may not be, but it is always better to know what you’re getting into before you make any decisions. The second opinion can be requested by patients themselves, or their family members.

Second opinions are used to provide more information and help in making decisions about medical treatment. They can be useful when a patient has questions about medical treatment; for example, a heart patient can seek a second opinion to know whether they should move forward with open heart surgery or not.

The second opinion process starts with the patient giving consent for a second opinion. Once that happens, there are a series of factors to consider  including:

– Having the patient’s medical history reviewed

– Examining all possible treatments available

– Discussing all possible outcomes of each treatment option

What are the reasons for getting a second opinion?

The answer to this question is different for all. However, some factors can help determine when it is appropriate to seek a second opinion.

If diagnosed with a rare disease

Seek a second opinion if you have been diagnosed with a rare disease. Even though your doctor may be more qualified to diagnose such a disease, it doesn’t hurt to have another opinion on the matter. If you think that your doctor may have made an error in diagnosis or misdiagnosis, then you should seek out another medical professional for help.

If you are diagnosed with heart disease

If you are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, it is important to seek a second opinion from a cardiologist. A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. They are experts in the field of cardiac medicine. Moreover, as a patient, it is crucial to understand that treatment for heart diseases can vary depending on the type of heart disease. The second opinion can help you know if there is more than one cause of the condition. They may also suggest you some lifestyle changes, and health monitoring plans to avoid major surgery in future. 

Heart symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness often persist after treatment, which can be frustrating for patients. Seek a second opinion. It is also important to follow up with your primary care physician to make sure that no underlying condition has been missed.

If treatment involves invasive surgery

It is important to seek a second opinion before undergoing any invasive surgery. This is especially true when surgery involves an organ transplant such as the heart. The patient and their family should get all their questions/doubts answered before saying yes to such complicated surgery. 

Will my primary physician be okay with a second opinion?

Having a second opinion can serve as a collaborative exercise in which there is complete transparency. This allows the patients to get new insights into their health condition and it is also beneficial for the primary physician because they can see things from a different perspective.

Your primary physician is most likely to support your decision of a second opinion. It is not a matter of untrust, but a matter of choosing the best treatment option without complicating the case. 

Get a second opinion online via the Curofone app

We understand there are instances when patients are not in a good condition for multiple clinic visits. This is why we have made taking a second opinion simple for all. You can connect to the leading cardiologists in Pune via the Curofone app for an online health consultation. It is a teleconsultation app that allows you to access medical data, schedule appointments, share your health data with your doctor, and more. Most importantly, patients can conveniently book appointments with doctors and get medical advice/second opinions anytime, anywhere!