Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 I have a friend who thought he might have a potentially serious medical condition. His lady wisely directed him to get checked out, which he did. By a specialist. Said doctor examined him, and declared that he did NOT have the suspected condition. His lady is a skeptic, however, and tells my friend he needs to see another doc. Appointment has been made. So, the question: Would it be wise, ethical, or just plain common courtesy to tell this doc that he has already been examined and is seeking a second opinion, or clam up and do it as a "blind test?" Opinions...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 If it were me, I would do it blind. The medical community can be both small and unwilling to challange itself. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Harley, #14153 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 What Loophole said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Absolutely. If you are getting a second opinion, do not tell them it is a second opinion. Then you get their actual opinion, instead of them possibly agreeing with the first guy so he won't look bad. And that's not just the medical profession. I learned early on not to inspect after someone else. I might see something he missed, or I might miss something he saw. Either way the results would be different than his, which generally caused great upsettedness with the customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Kris Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Agree with all of the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Can’t be an Alpo-esque question. You didn’t read about it. It’s really happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 That's cold, Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 I must respectfully disagree! I had a doctor who suddenly decided that I might have a serious condition and ordered some tests that were not the usual. The results came back outside the range considered "normal". But, since that was not her area of specialty, she recommended seeing my PCP. He ran a bunch more tests and they came back "normal". A week later, he suddenly called me from out-of-town recommending I see a hemotologist (blood doctor). Made an appointment with a prominent doc at the Mayo Clinic, who looked over all the test results, and concluded that, since I had never had the tests the first doctor made, that this probably was normal...for me! This was about six or seven years ago. If I had the problem the first doctor tested for, I'd have been dead six months later! But, I had to show the test results to the third doctor. No, I would not conceal the fact that I was seeking additional consultation. At least it would save you having to undergo the same tests again...although the new doctor might want to run them just to be certain of the results. There have been cases where a lab screwed up the tests, or got the wrong patient! In one case, one of my doctors brought up the tests from the previous year on his computer screen! He quickly realized it, but it just shows how things can get screwed up! BTW, I never returned to the first two sawbones! Scared the $#i+ out of me and my wife, needlessly. OTOH, I know of several instances where a person saw several doctors for symptoms of who-knows-what, and two or three doctors said it was in their imagination! Fortunately, they got one more opinion and were diagnosed with, ovarian cancer, in the one case, and mysthenia gravis in the other. In the former case, the patient was successfully treated, and is still active in her profession. In the latter case, which was my grandmother, over seventy years ago, there wasn't much that could be done except treat the symptoms. Today there are a number of meds used for that autoimune disease. You have to be your own advocate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joke 'um Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 If people had to pay for it themselves, one opinion would be enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 50% of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class. My wife had an endocrinologist who was experimenting with her like a lab rat. Her thyroid died at age 6, and she has been taking enough Thyrolar to crank up Secretariat. This quack decided to tinker with her dose, and cut it in half. She put on 50 lbs, her hair fell out and her libido died. She told him she had been on that dose over 40 years and felt good, but he refused to listen to her. He ruined her quality of life because he was a clueless idiot. Get a second opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share Posted July 27, 2021 1 minute ago, Joke 'um said: If people had to pay for it themselves, one opinion would be enough. "Second opinion" is out-of-pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: "Second opinion" is out-of-pocket. I have seen cases where if you got a second opinion, which was covered, the surgery would be covered 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 I wouldn’t tell them it’s a second opinion. I think a busy doctor can be swayed by a previous diagnosis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 As a now retired doc, I have one thing to say to you reprobates: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 4 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: "Second opinion" is out-of-pocket. That depends on the health plan's benefits and whether a referral is needed or not. How the provider(s) bill MAY cause a problem. As an example, if both bill for a wellness visit, which normally has a limit of 1 per year, then expect claim payment issues. I work for a major health insurance company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share Posted July 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Chantry said: That depends on the health plan's benefits and whether a referral is needed or not. How the provider(s) bill MAY cause a problem. As an example, if both bill for a wellness visit, which normally has a limit of 1 per year, then expect claim payment issues. I work for a major health insurance company. Medicare and whatever supplement he has that allows one per year. 27 minutes ago, Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 said: As a now retired doc, I have one thing to say to you reprobates: So Doc... what would you say to the fella if he was your brother or old college buddy...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Just now, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: Medicare and whatever supplement he has that allows one per year. In that case he would need a referral for a second opinion and the doctor would have to bill it as other than a wellness or routine check up visit. Or pay out of pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 10 minutes ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: So Doc... what would you say to the fella if he was your brother or old college buddy...? I would say that I am seeking a second opinion. A doc worth anything will accept the challenge. One of my long time patients brought her sister in for a fifth opinion. Very non-specific symptoms. That is when it becomes tough. I looked at all of her previous exams, and no one ever ran a complete lab panel on her. I did, and I noticed her protein and calcium was high. A couple of more tests confirmed she had multiple myeloma. I referred her to an oncologist who did a bone marrow confirmation, and treatment. Tell it like it is. I hated it when patients beat around the bush. I wasn't the smartest doc in the world, but I was tenacious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 37 minutes ago, Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 said: I would say that I am seeking a second opinion. A doc worth anything will accept the challenge. That is the key point. Here in CA, we have "woke" doctors who ask if you have firearms in the house, etc. Two of my daughters are RNs. The elder nurse tells me she has lost count of how many times she has gone nose-to-nose with a right-hand-of-God type of doctor, to prevent him from killing her patient. My Dad was a doctor, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus McGillicuddy Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 5 hours ago, bgavin said: 50% of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class. Q: What do you call the person who graduates last in their class at medical school? A: Doctor Seamus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share Posted July 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 said: I would say that I am seeking a second opinion. A doc worth anything will accept the challenge. One of my long time patients brought her sister in for a fifth opinion. Very non-specific symptoms. That is when it becomes tough. I looked at all of her previous exams, and no one ever ran a complete lab panel on her. I did, and I noticed her protein and calcium was high. A couple of more tests confirmed she had multiple myeloma. I referred her to an oncologist who did a bone marrow confirmation, and treatment. Tell it like it is. I hated it when patients beat around the bush. I wasn't the smartest doc in the world, but I was tenacious. Thanks, Okie... I passed that on. Pretty much aligned with my own suggestion to the gentleman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Seamus McGillicuddy said: Q: What do you call the person who graduates last in their class at medical school? The Defendant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Rodney Dangerfield said his Doctor told him he was fat. He said "I want a second opinion" Doctor says "Okay, you're ugly too" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/27/2021 at 11:28 AM, bgavin said: 50% of all doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class. My wife had an endocrinologist who was experimenting with her like a lab rat. Her thyroid died at age 6, and she has been taking enough Thyrolar to crank up Secretariat. This quack decided to tinker with her dose, and cut it in half. She put on 50 lbs, her hair fell out and her libido died. She told him she had been on that dose over 40 years and felt good, but he refused to listen to her. He ruined her quality of life because he was a clueless idiot. Get a second opinion. They still call the guy at the very bottom of the class, Doctor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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