Second Opinion (Health Care) Law and Legal Definition
A second opinion in the context of health care refers to a process of seeking another doctor’s opinion about a disease diagnosed in a person by one doctor and about the method that must be adopted for its treatment. It helps either to confirm the initial diagnosis and treatment plan of a primary physician or to offer an alternative diagnosis and treatment approach. Confirmation of second opinion with the primary opinion helps to reduce anxiety and uncertainty in a patient's mind.
In cases involving life threatening diagnosis, a second opinion helps health insurance providers save their money by establishing the certainty of a clinical need for surgery. It is a patient’s right to seek a second opinion before committing to any treatment plan.
