Second opinion

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the medical and legal term. For other uses, see Second opinion (disambiguation).

A second opinion is an opinion on a matter disputed by two or more parties.

Law

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

building contractors, the builder may seek a second opinion to confirm their view.[3]

Medicine

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 mediation

Professional mediators may be asked for second opinions regarding whether to proceed to trial or seek a settlement instead.[11]

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-57073-812-8
    .
  2. Citizens Advice Bureau
    . CAB website. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Handling customer complaints". QBCC website. Queensland Building and Construction Commission. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  4. ISBN 978-0-8014-5003-7
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-4443-5564-2
    .
  6. ^ a b c "New National Survey Shows Almost a Third of Second Medical Opinions Result... -- re> ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 17 /PRNewswire/ --". Archived from the original on 2013-12-24.
  7. ^ "Apply for a Scholarship | Patient Advocate Foundation".
  8. S2CID 28378251
    .
  9. ^ "A second opinion could save your life". Los Angeles Times. 24 May 2015.
  10. ISBN 978-1-59942-812-3
    .
  11. ISBN 978-1-118-07862-4
    .


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