Why Second Opinions Can Save Lives

“You have nothing to lose if both opinions match up for the good, and everything to gain if something that was missed is found, which does happen. “ – Actress Rita Wilson, after a breast biopsy was first read as non-cancerous and a second opinion found it to be cancerous. A third opinion confirmed the cancerous nature and she recently had a bilateral mastectomy.

When I see a new patient and recommend surgery, I urge them to obtain a second opinion. I even provide them with names of other doctors in the area to increase the likelihood they’ll get another opinion. Why? Because that’s what I would do for myself.

Doctors are just human. They have shortcomings and make mistakes, even at work. We don’t want to believe it but they have bad days, personal and family issues that may affect their critical thinking occasionally.

In few other realms of medicine can this be as fatal as pathology and radiology, where doctors read images or microscopic samples and must deem them as malignant, something to just watch out for, or simply nothing to worry about.

For instance, recent findings suggest that 1 out of every 4 breast biopsies is misdiagnosed. That doesn’t just mean missing cancer, it may also mean suggesting radical treatment for something non-cancerous. Do you accept those odds?

What I’m getting at is that we need to move away from a “I’m just following orders” mode in medicine and start taking more responsibility for our health. Listen to your gut. Don’t ignore your instinct. Doctors are doing their best and for the most part are advocates for their patients, going above and beyond.

Rita Wilson had access to the best medicine in a major city where money was no issue. Yet she had a misdiagnosis initially, and if she had ignored her gut she may not have lived to enjoy those golden years.