Patients
who have received their first diagnosis of a disease or condition from their
doctor are too often faced with two heavy decisions after this visit. The first
question weighing on their mind is likely what to do about their supposed
condition, and the second is likely to be if they should seek out a second
opinion to see if they are actually dealing with that particular condition.
Because initial diagnoses in American hospitals are somewhere between 50% and
80% inaccurate or non comprehensive, according to which data you examine, it is
clear why the medical second – and third and so on – opinion is so critical and
lends a necessary element of balance and possibility to the definitive first
visit.
When
the issue of medical futility and various treatment options come into play, a
doctor with a life saving second opinion makes the single or multiple diagnosis
much more complex, however. A second opinion here is necessary, in order to
fully understand the grand spectrum of treatments that are available for your
condition, even if the first opinion was right. Non-emergency medical decision
making based on chronic pain or disease demands a second opinion because no
doctor can be held accountable for being completely up to date on every
potential treatment, nor can they be held to a standard that is 100% accurate
all of the time.
Lyme Disease Example
Take,
for example, the instance of Lyme's disease, now considered a global epidemic.
Many who are successfully diagnosed with Lyme's do not find this is possible
until five, ten, or even thirty doctor visits down the road. Because Lyme's is
so often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and depression,
multiple medical opinions are absolutely essential to getting to the truth of
the matter and thereafter beginning to treat the patient for the correct
disease.
Many patients with Lyme's specifically find themselves spending
anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000 on initial doctor visits, testing, and
medication just to get to the diagnosis of Lyme's, without having done any
treatment whatsoever. Once treatment begins, that can cost anywhere from that
amount to twice that, and even then sometimes the disease conquers.
It is clear
that in cases like these a second opinion is far more valuable than following
the treatment plan from the initial doctor visit and diagnosis, as something
like Lyme's is far more responsive when the spiroketes are treated very early
in the game.
Aid in Dying Example
Another
instance we may find is in the case of the state of Oregon, which is one of the
only states that allows physician assisted ending of life. Those individuals
who make this important choice are able to take one formula or a series of
drugs that quickly and painlessly end their life with the help of an appointed
Oregon resident, while also enabling them to plan ahead for their death and to
be surrounded by family and friends if they so desire. Many elderly people, or
those of any age, with serious chronic and painful conditions with no end in
sight take this route in order to avoid any more unnecessary strife and
expensive treatment.
However, it is absolutely critical that only those with
accurate diagnoses are pushed to this level of life or death decision making.
The second opinion, in a case like this, is not an option or a consideration,
it is essential and spells out the difference between medical futility and a
second chance.
Conclusion
From
these two examples, it is clear why at times the life and death dichotomy is
reliant on a sound medical second opinion, and also why the patient must be his
or her own advocate in demanding a second opinion, even when the first
diagnosis fits the bill completely. Whether the initial diagnosis is confirmed,
or whether a new one is brought up for each subsequent doctor visit, the patient
who is thorough in their diagnostics will be rewarded by conclusiveness and
comprehensiveness over blank doubt and overwhelming possibility.
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