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Seeking Second Opinion From Medical Professionals

– Palm Beach Gardens, FL -  A recent Wall street Journal Article “What if the Doctor is Wrong?” discussed when patients should seek a second opinion on some cancers, asthma and other potentially serious or life threatening conditions, as they can be tricky to diagnose, which could lead to incorrect treatments.

According to the Institute of Medicine, misdiagnoses are to blame for nearly 98,000 patient deaths a year.

Many people are afraid to get a second opinion - not wanting to offend or question their doctor; however, second opinions have been standard medical practice for years. A good doctor will welcome additional input and will support your efforts. A second opinion can confirm the diagnosis or allow you to discover other overlooked possibilities. We need to remember that medical professionals have different ideas about how to diagnose and treat conditions and diseases. Some doctors take a conservative or traditional approach to treating their patients, while others are more aggressive and use the latest tests and therapies. Technology and medical research is also changing rapidly.

A diagnosis or understanding of a treatment can be scary and confusing. To gain more information, it is sometimes wise to seek a second opinion or advice from another qualified doctor or group of specialists before proceeding forward. It could provide you with available treatment options which would allow you to make a more informed choice.

You can ask your doctor for a recommendation (preferably someone outside their practice), ask someone you trust for a recommendation (another doctor) or you can check with your insurance provider. Make sure you get copies of your medical records and send them to the second doctor. Here are some things to ask your doctor or specialist when seeking a second opinion:

• Have you reviewed all the materials related to my case?
• Was the lab test/image/biopsy specimen adequate to make my diagnosis? Would a repeat test give us more information? 
•  Are we certain that this is the disease I have? Could there be another explanation for these symptoms or results?
• If you agree with the initial diagnosis, can you confirm or suggest modifications to the first doctor’s proposed treatment plan?
• Can you reassure me that we have explored all the options?

There are no hard-and-fast rules to tell you when a second opinion is necessary. If you are provided with a diagnosis or treatment option that may be chronic or terminal, or if you require any sort of invasive, long-term or expensive treatment (lifelong drug regimen or surgery), then it may make sense to get a second opinion. You deserve the most advanced medical care possible. The decision is ultimately yours to make. A smart patient is one that educates themselves on their condition - learns as much as they can on treatment options and then makes an informed decision.

If you have questions regarding second opinions, or if you or someone you love has been injured because of a mistake or error made during the administration of medical attention and care, call 561-630-5363 to talk to one of our attorneys today.

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Domnick & Shevin, PL, a Palm Beach Gardens Litigation Firm, focuses on Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Catastrophic Injury, Product Liability, and Mass Torts. The firm is headquartered at 5100 PGA Boulevard, Suite 317 and may be contacted at (561) 630-5363. Additional information about Domnick & Shevin, PL may be obtained from the firm’s website at www.acallforjustice.com.