When should you get a second opinion?

Receiving a serious diagnosis or facing an unexpected health challenge can be a stressful time. As you pursue next steps in your care or the care of a loved one, you may wonder about getting a second opinion.

Is it worthwhile? Will your doctor be offended if you ask for one? Will insurance cover it?

Here we answer common questions about second opinions and offer guidance about how to seek one for a medical concern.

Why get a second opinion? 

A second opinion is when you consult with another doctor or health care provider after you’ve already received a diagnosis or treatment plan for a medical issue.

The second provider reviews your medical history, diagnostic tests and any other relevant information, and then shares their perspective on your situation. They may confirm what your original doctor has recommended, or they may have an alternative point of view.

There are multiple benefits to seeking a second opinion, and one of the biggest is supporting your own peace of mind.

“Sometimes families need to know that they have done their due diligence — that they have turned over every rock they can, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” says Jacob Henderson, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s. “You don’t want to start a complex treatment regimen with any doubts left in your mind that it’s the right thing to do.”

Another benefit? A second opinion can provide you with a point of comparison. It may help to ensure that your diagnosis is accurate; you have access to the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments, including clinical trials; and your treatment plan is optimized for your specific circumstances and personal goals.

What situations warrant a second opinion?

You can seek a second opinion at any time for any reason. However, there are two common scenarios where second opinions are often beneficial.

1. You don’t feel confident about your care. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious or fearful about a health problem, but what you shouldn’t feel is doubt about your care or your relationship with your provider.

“You should always feel comfortable with the care you’re getting,” says Matthew Stevenson, MD, a board-certified neurologist at MultiCare Neuroscience & Sleep Medicine – Puyallup. “If your provider isn’t addressing your concerns, if you’re having trouble communicating with them, or if you feel like the conclusions they’re reaching are inconsistent with your experience, then a second opinion is not only helpful but necessary.”

It’s possible that you may start out feeling confident about your care, but the feeling wanes over time. Maybe you’re not responding to treatment or your condition has taken an unexpected turn. In either of those scenarios, it may be time to consider a second opinion.

2. There’s ambiguity or uncertainty about your medical situation. Diagnosing and treating medical problems is not always straightforward, particularly if you have a complex condition, such as advanced cancer, or a rare disease. In these situations, there may be multiple treatment pathways to consider, or the treatments your provider recommends could present risks.

“Some treatments, like high-dose chemotherapy or radiation or surgery, can have significant lifelong implications,” Dr. Henderson says. “I think the bigger the decision involved, the more beneficial it is to seek a second opinion.”

Are there reasons not to get a second opinion? 

There are circumstances where seeking an additional opinion may not be the best course of action. For example, if you have already gotten a second opinion, seeking a third, fourth or fifth opinion from other specialists is likely not an effective use of your resources.

Time itself can also be a factor when considering whether to get a second opinion.

“There are situations where seeking a formal second opinion would lead to delays in care that could compromise a patient’s health,” Dr. Henderson says. “In those cases, I offer to reach out to other doctors informally on a patient’s behalf to discuss their care.”

Will my doctor be offended if I ask for a second opinion?

Many people worry about how their doctor or other health care provider will react if they request a second opinion, but what matters most is your health and well-being. Asking for a second opinion is a standard practice of care. Providers should be accustomed to this request, and most are happy to refer to you to another doctor or specialist.

“While I won’t say doctors never get offended, it happens much less than people think,” Dr. Stevenson says. “Most providers are dedicated to helping their patients get the care they need, even if that care does not come from them directly.”

What’s the best way to get a second opinion?

While you can get a second opinion on your own, an ideal place to start is with your current provider. Consider talking to them plainly about your ongoing concerns and why you would like a second opinion.

In some cases — for example, if there is an issue affecting your relationship with that provider — you may be able to bring it to their attention and resolve it.

“Most providers are trying to help their patients the best they can,” Dr. Stevenson says. “If they’re falling short, it may be that there is information they aren’t aware of or priorities that haven’t been voiced. Having a frank discussion can help get things back on track and may be preferrable to starting anew with someone else.”

Talking about your desire for a second opinion can also help your provider facilitate a timely referral to the right doctor or specialist.

“Your doctor likely already has existing professional relationships with other local specialists and subspecialists,” Dr. Henderson says. “They’ll have inside knowledge about who can best answer your question or address your concern, which can save you time.”

What should I do if the second opinion differs from the first?

What you do next in this situation depends on your particular circumstances, how different the medical opinions are from one another and the reasons for those differences. When you’re choosing next steps, consider which plan, and its rationale, align best with your personal goals and priorities.

“Ideally, what happens next is that the doctors consult with each other,” Dr. Henderson says. “In my experience, we are almost always able to discuss any differences in opinion and come together to agree on a plan.”