Medical Second Opinion - 5 Reasons to Use It.
Imagine sitting in a clinic and being told by your doctor that you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.Next, the doctor prescribes some medication and is recommending an unfamiliar treatment. Naturally, you are shocked and don’t want to believe such bad news. You also want to trust your doctor’s opinion.
In situations like this, absolute confirmation is key. As such, a second opinion is both essential and comforting, knowing that you have been given the right information and advice.
Here are 5 reasons why you should take advantage of your free second opinion, made available to you with international health insurance:
- A Second Opinion is Essential
Did you know that the overall misdiagnosis rate is 10-15%, with diagnostic errors resulting in 40,000 - 80,000 deaths per year? (Rodziewicz and Hipskind, 2020) While the methods and technology for testing and achieving a diagnosis are constantly improving, incorrect results are still present in medicine today. A second opinion is essential in order to provide you with confirmation of your condition.
- The Right Treatment
Without the correct diagnosis, the right treatment can not be identified. Some diseases require very particular treatment and medication in order for the patient to make a full recovery. A second opinion will confirm your illness can also confirm that the first recommended form of treatment is the right one.
- Peace of Mind
Patients respond much better to treatment when they have a positive mindset and feel confident in their doctor’s ability to treat them. A second opinion will clarify that your first doctor has provided an accurate diagnosis and prescribed the industry recommended treatment. This will allow you to relax throughout the process, knowing that you are in good hands and receiving the best possible treatment available.
- Access to a Network of Medical Excellence
International health insurance providers offer their clients a second opinion and also provide access to a network of specialists. This is a team of medical experts, who evaluate your test results, come to an educated agreement on your diagnosis and communicate what the best treatment and medication would be. This is another benefit of and reason to take advantage of your free second opinion.
- It’s Free
Most international health insurance providers offer a free second opinion and you have the choice of using their network of doctors or consulting a doctor of your own choice. We highly recommend that you contact the insurance company first before getting a second opinion. By doing so, you will be sure that the costs of your second opinion will be covered by the provider.
Would you like to learn more about getting a second medical opinion? The specialists at ASN will be happy to answer any further questions you may have. You can email the ASN team here at: info@asn.ch
References:
T L Rodwziewicz and J E Hipskind, 2020. Medical Error Prevention, National Center for Biotechnology Information. [Accessed April 22, 2020] Online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/