Getting a Second Opinion Before Undergoing a Surgery

If one of your treating doctors has recommended a surgery, it is very important that at the very least you seek an opinion of one other reputable doctor about whether you need the surgery, the risks involved, and the potential benefits. Unfortunately, there are quite a few doctors out there who are motivate to perform surgeries for financial reasons and not because a patient really needs the procedure. Every surgery involves certain risks of complications and subsequent problems, so you want to make sure that whatever surgery you get after suffering an injury is truly necessary and is likely to benefit you rather than put you at risk without it being absolutely necessary.

To make the most out of the second opinion you are getting from a doctor, request a full set of medical records from your  first doctor, including any x-rays and MRI reports and preferably images (on a CD) or films and show all the materials to that subsequent doctor. The more information the second doctor has, who has never treated or evaluated you before, the more likely he is to give you the best and the most complete advice.

Even if you don't have health insurance or your health insurance doesn't cover getting this kind of second opinion, it would be well worth paying the second doctor for a couple of hours of his work in order to determine whether you truly need that surgery. This is especially true if you are considering having a serious surgery, such as back, shoulder, or knee surgery, which may involve serious risks and side effects.

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