A second medical opinion involves seeking out the advice or evaluation of another healthcare professional to get a fresh perspective. It can help you feel empowered and able to take an active role in your care.
A second medical opinion can often help provide another perspective on your symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment options.
It can be particularly beneficial for underserved groups who may be more likely to experience medical dismissal,
- people of color
- people with a disability
- LGBTQIA+ communities
- people living in difficult socioeconomic situations
A second medical opinion can help close this gap and support informed decision making.
Learn more about when you may need a second opinion, how you can get one, and the potential benefits and drawbacks.
A second opinion
Reasons to seek a second opinion can
- You feel dissatisfied with your diagnosis: You feel unhappy with your diagnosis and disagree with the evaluation of your symptoms.
- You feel dismissed: Your health concerns or needs are being dismissed, and you don’t feel heard.
- Your diagnosis is unclear: A doctor may have been unable to find a cause for your symptoms, resulting in inadequate treatment options.
- Your treatment isn’t working: Your current treatment options aren’t helping treat or manage your symptoms, or you’ve found that they are worsening or persistent.
- You’d like to explore alternative treatment options: You don’t feel as though the treatment options offered address your health concerns, or you want to explore less high risk or invasive options.
- You feel uncomfortable with your current doctor: You feel uncomfortable with your current doctor’s behavior, or you feel they rush you during your medical appointments.
If you feel dismissed by a doctor and have voiced your concerns but still feel as though you are getting nowhere, consider asking them to add your concerns to your medical record. This can prove useful when getting a second opinion and allows other healthcare professionals to clearly see the steps you have already taken.
When seeking a second opinion, you should begin by informing your current doctor that you would like one. Asking for a second opinion isn’t uncommon, and most doctors will be understanding and supportive of this. They can refer you to another doctor or recommend a colleague.
If your current doctor is unable or unwilling to make a referral for you, you can still find another doctor by searching through your health insurance network’s directory or looking for doctors online on hospital websites.
Once you’ve found another doctor, your next step should typically be to obtain a copy of your medical records, such as test results or other relevant information, to take to your appointment.
It’s important to make time to prepare for a second opinion appointment and make a list of questions to make the most out of your time.
You should go in with an open mind and actively listen to the doctor’s suggestions. Remember, the goal is to be well informed of the options available to you and make a decision that prioritizes your health and well-being.
Keeping your health insurance coverage in mind
It’s important to check whether your health insurance covers second opinions. In some cases, you may be limited to in-network healthcare professionals and facilities only and require pre-authorization before requesting a referral.
There are several potential benefits to getting a second opinion,
- helping you to feel empowered and in control of your own healthcare journey
- helping lead to reduced medical errors
- helping promote informed decision making and ensure you can take an active role in your healthcare
- helping reduce the chance of dismissal or a missed diagnosis and offering an opportunity for a fresh perspective
- helping build more trust between an individual and a healthcare professional
Healthcare should always be seen as collaborative. Increasing informed decision making through options like second opinions can often help improve the overall quality of care.
While seeking a second opinion can be beneficial, it can also have several potential drawbacks.
This includes:
- Cost: Getting a second opinion may not be accessible to everyone, especially if it is not covered by insurance. It can sometimes involve traveling out of state, which can also be expensive and time consuming.
- Treatment delays: Waiting for a second appointment or further testing can often delay treatment, which may increase the risk of complications if symptoms are serious.
- Confusion: You may receive conflicting advice, which can lead to stress and confusion over which suggestion to move forward with.
- Unnecessary treatment: You may seek treatment options that feel more appealing to you, which may be unneeded. This may negatively affect your outcome and can even lead to further complications.
It’s important to consider these drawbacks and weigh them alongside the benefits to decide if a second opinion is right for you.
Getting a second opinion: Next steps
- If you have health insurance, begin by checking if your coverage allows for a second opinion and following any guidelines.
- Inform your current doctor that you would like to get a second opinion. They can often make a referral or recommendation for you.
- Prepare for your appointment by identifying your desired outcome, writing down any questions you have, and gathering relevant medical paperwork, such as test results.
- Attend your appointment with an open mind and a willingness to listen to the suggestions being presented to you.
A second medical opinion is when a person seeks out the advice or evaluation of another healthcare professional to get another perspective.
It can allow you to feel empowered and take an active role in your healthcare. It can also support informed decision making.
However, it can also have several potential drawbacks, such as a higher cost, delayed treatment times, and confusion if you receive conflicting medical advice.
Weighing any potential drawbacks alongside the benefits can help you decide if a second opinion is right for you.