Second opinion (medicine)
Encyclopedia
A second opinion is a visit to a physician
other than the one a patient
has previously been seeing in order to get a differing point-of-view. Second opinions may be sought by a patient under the following circumstances:
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
other than the one a patient
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
has previously been seeing in order to get a differing point-of-view. Second opinions may be sought by a patient under the following circumstances:
- Physician recommends surgerySurgerySurgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. - Physician diagnoses patient with serious illness (such as cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
) that patient does not believe they have. - Physician recommends a treatment for the patient other than what the patient believes is necessary.
- When physician recommends elective surgeryElective surgeryElective surgery is surgery that is scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency...
, it may be required by the insurance planHealth insuranceHealth insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
. In other cases, insurance will not pay for a second opinion. - Patient believes they have a condition that physician fails to diagnose. In some cases, the physician may be the one to recommend the second opinion.
- Physician themself recommends a second opinion.