According to the Mayo Clinic, this move can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis by 50 percent. They also state that it is theirs study showed that one in five patients hears a different diagnosis when they seek a second opinion.
Here are the situations in which it is advisable to visit another doctor in order to hear a new opinion.
1. The situation is not improving
Your doctor has given you various medicines, but your condition is not improving or is getting worse, but your doctor has not asked for further examinations to consider other treatments. According to Dr. Christopher Hollingsworth, a New York surgeon, this may be a situation where you might want to see another doctor. There may be an undetected condition that is causing problems. He also states that the same applies to the situation when you still feel pain after a procedure, he reports Ordination.
2. You have been diagnosed with a rare disease
There are about 7000 rare diseases that affect about 30 million people in America alone, and studies show that these conditions are often misdiagnosed. A 2014 study found that people with rare diseases visit an average of 7.3 doctors and wait an average of five years after the onset of symptoms to get a proper diagnosis.
According to Dr. Karla Robinson, a doctor's second opinion is always welcome if you have a rare disease, because some of them have not yet been sufficiently researched, and since the doctor rarely encounters them, it may be harder to recognize the symptoms.
3. You are going to have an operation
If it's a risky procedure, such as an organ transplant, brain or heart surgery, as well as bowel surgery, radiologist Ben Paxton believes it's wise to seek a second opinion. As these procedures are serious and dangerous, having several opinions from different experts may help you make a decision.
4. You suffer from chronic pain
Diagnosing and treating chronic pain can be time-consuming and complicated, Paxton says. Chronic pain can have a negative impact on life, and if it doesn't go away, it's a good idea to seek a second doctor's opinion. "It's important to explore all treatment options before committing to any long-term therapy," adds Paxton.
5. Your diagnosis requires the opinion of a specialist doctor
All doctors are well acquainted with human health and various diseases, but some conditions require the care of specialists such as cardiologists, endocrinologists or gastroenterologists who know much more about a certain area and will better understand your condition and how to treat it. "An emergency physician may therefore advise surgery as a solution for a shoulder dislocation, but an orthopedist who specializes in shoulder problems may have a different opinion," explains Robinson.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON