Second_opinion_(medicine)
Second opinion
Opinion on a matter disputed by two or more parties
A second opinion is an opinion on a matter disputed by two or more parties.
 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (May 2011) |
In legal cases, a second opinion which contradicts the opinion of a jointly retained expert may be disregarded as not being impartial.[1]
Consumer rights
In cases such as car repairs, a second opinion should be obtained in writing, and the original garage given an opportunity to rectify matters.[2] In the case of clients' disputes with domestic building contractors, the builder may seek a second opinion to confirm their view.[3]
A second opinion can be a visit to a physician other than the one a patient has previously been seeing in order to get more information or to hear a differing point of view.[4][5] Some reasons for which a patient may seek out a second opinion include:
- Physician recommends surgery.
- Physician diagnoses patient with serious illness (such as cancer).[6]
- Physician recommends a treatment for the patient other than what the patient believes is necessary.
- When physician recommends elective surgery, it may be required by the insurance plan. In other cases, insurance will not pay for a second opinion.[7]
- Patient believes they have a condition that the physician diagnosed incorrectly or failed to diagnose.[6]
- The physician themself recommends a second opinion.[6][8]
Different payment procedures apply to different second opinions. For example, some health plans pay for second opinions for members; many employers offer free second opinion benefits through companies like Grand Rounds or similar companies; and some states have public programs for cancer second opinions.[9]
Workplace disputes
Second opinions may also be obtained by employers.[10]
Professional mediators may be asked for second opinions regarding whether to proceed to trial or seek a settlement instead.[11]
- Nancy F. Atlas; Stephen K. Huber; E. Wendy Trachte-Huber (2000). Alternative Dispute Resolution: The Litigator's Handbook. American Bar Association. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-57073-812-8.
- "Problems with the quality of garage repairs or service". Citizens Advice Bureau. CAB website. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- "Handling customer complaints". QBCC website. Queensland Building and Construction Commission. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- Kyle Beardsley (18 August 2011). The Mediation Dilemma. Cornell University Press. pp. 37. ISBN 978-0-8014-5003-7.
- British Medical Association (31 January 2012). Medical Ethics Today: The BMA's Handbook of Ethics and Law. John Wiley & Sons. p. 253. ISBN 978-1-4443-5564-2.
- "A second opinion could save your life". Los Angeles Times. 24 May 2015.
- Lisa Granger (2010). Best Practices in Occupational Health, Safety, Workers Compensation and Claims Management for Employers: Assisting Employers in Navigating "The Road to Zero". Universal-Publishers. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-59942-812-3.
- Victoria Pynchon (10 April 2012). Success as a Mediator For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-1-118-07862-4.
