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The issue of second opinions in health profession frequently sparks a debate. The thoughts are diverse depending upon if you are a patient, versus his/her physician versus health policy maker.
Dr. Scott Haig at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons issues a strong indictment of medical profession by arguing that large number of physicians are quick to refer patients to another doctor rather than managing the situation themselves. This, according to him, is not only inefficient medicine but bad medicine.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Dr. Haig may be on to something that is not frequently verbalized by many of us. We all see such occurrences not too infrequently where the health care provider has made his/her money doing the easy part including the expensive procedures and then sends over the patient to someone else for second opinion to deal with issues that actually required some thinking.
On the other hand, what is the patient to do, especially when faced with a life-threatening diagnosis like cancer and/or complicated set of options?
Like it or not, second opinion with all its disadvantages is a fact of life and we should all be thankful that we have that option.
What do you think? Did you think it was a good exercise or do you feel you had to do out of frustration with your health care provider. Have you had occasions where you considered a second opinion? Did you think it was worth the cost and effort?
