One evening in April 1990, a 58-year-old diabetic gentleman named Jack complained to his wife that he was having a burning sensation in his mid chest and some pain down both arms. He had no prior history of heart disease but did have a history of acid reflux. When a few hours passed and he was not feeling better, his wife took him to the ER. The ER doctor did not do an EKG, even though Jack complained of chest pain. The doctor told him it was heartburn, as he had eaten a large spaghetti dinner that evening. He was given a medication for acid reflux and sent home with instructions to watch his diet more closely. His symptoms continued intermittently for two more weeks until he returned to ER with severe chest pain. An EKG was finally performed, and Jack was informed that he had been having “silent heart attacks” for two weeks, with extensive damage to the heart. In diabetics, heart attacks often don’t manifest in the same way as in a non-diabetic, and the first ER doctor had not caught it.

Jack was my father. He knew he didn’t feel well in those two weeks, but took the first doctor’s diagnosis without question and did not get a second opinion. Perhaps if he had, intervention could have occurred earlier and the damage to his heart could have been less, which may have prolonged his life. He died of heart disease 3.5 years after his diagnosis.

According to recent studies, up to 40% of ER diagnoses are incorrect. In the U.S., 12 million people experience a diagnostic error each year. Women and minorities are 20-30% more likely to be misdiagnosed.

There’s a tendency, especially among women, to think that you’ll be insulting your doctor if you ask for a second opinion. If your doctor is angry at you for asking for a second opinion, you have the wrong doctor. Reputable doctors will welcome a second opinion. If you have received a new and possibly life-changing diagnosis, if you are uncomfortable with a proposed treatment or if you have a choice of treatment plans, and especially if your doctor tells you there is “nothing we can do”, you should seriously consider getting a second opinion. It’s your health, your body, and you want to get it right. Medicare and most insurance companies will pay for a second opinion in most cases. In fact, some insurance companies require them before authorizing some treatments or procedures.

When seeking a second opinion, what you don’t want to do is go to another doctor who is in the same group or network of doctors as the first one. Many doctors are unwilling to contradict another physician in their own group. Go outside of your first doctor’s group and get a completely independent opinion. And of course, it’s crucial that you get a second opinion from a doctor who specializes in your particular medical issue.

88% of patients who seek a second opinion leave with a refined or changed diagnosis. You can only receive the proper treatment if you have the proper diagnosis. Even the best doctors make mistakes. A second opinion can give you the peace of mind to know that you are making the right decisions in regards to your healthcare.