The Importance of Second Opinions

[fbarbera]

This LA Times column, about the importance of obtaining second opinions, resonated with me quite a bit.  When I was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma, the first doctors I spoke with told me radiation was out of the question.  I had to go out-of-pocket for additional consultations to learn that GK or CK were reasonable alternatives.  I do not know why the initial medical doctors did not fairly present me with my treatment options.  But the whole experience did underscore for me how critical it is to obtain more than one opinion when it comes to treating serious medical conditions. 

Doctors, like all of us, are not perfect.  There can be no harm to having more than one doctor look at your MRIs and give you an opinion about treatments.   

Here is the column.  It's about a malignant brain tumor but I think it applies equally to ANs:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez7-2008sep07,0,348289.column?page=1

Sincerely,
Francesco

[tenai98]

Hear hear to second opinions...if I hadnt insisted on a second opinion regarding my hearing loss, I'd be wearing hearing aids with no clue as to a squatter living rent free in my head....
JO

[sgerrard]

I liked that article. It is sad but true that things other the best interest of the patient can influence a doctor's recommendations. Dr. Medbery on the CK forum reported that at one of the hospitals in Oklahoma, the doctors prefer to recommend Gammaknife over Cyberknife because the GK machine is closer to their office. Yikes.

Second opinions, and some research on the internet, I say.

Steve