Is it necessary to have a second opinion..??

What is second opinion? It is routine process that one have some issue, and he takes advice from any consultant but again just to reassure another consultation is followed.Like wise in radiology aspect, patient has already done any imaging study like Xray, mammography CT and MRI and have one radiologist's report in hand, again get reconfirmed these findings by another radiologist. 

First of all we have to admit the fact, that doctors are also humans and any doctor in world would like to do right diagnosis and treatment for their patients, however it cant be denying that , they also have their physical and mental capabilities, so it’s not surprising that one might get medical errors during x-ray, mammography or CT or MRI reporting. These are diagnostic errors like any machine errors and no one is immune to these errors. These errors unknowingly can become problematic to patients as well as physician while managing the disease, as there can be wrong treatment or can result into unwanted or another surgery. So here the importance of second opinion comes. 

Many times physicians and surgeon come across such a situation that they feel another clinical diagnosis and imaging report is pointing to other thing, and it is really a dilemma and big question is what to do next. Start this or do this. So this time second opinion is quite assuring and even followed by many clinicians.

According to many US websites that claimed the second-opinion consultation service may improve patient safety and care, eliminate unnecessary medical procedures and surgeries; improve the quality of healthcare and lower healthcare costs.

Due to advances in technology like internet and PACS these days, it has become fairly simple to send data or images to distant location and get reports as fast as within 30 minutes.

In India now it is emerging concept but it has well established in US or other developed counties and there is no doubt that it is going to find strong foothold in India also, in the coming years.

Like we say in Hindi ‘ek se bhale do’, its always better to have opinion of two experts which is applied not only for imaging aspects but also our day today life issues to make right decision. The aim of all these efforts is to make peaceful mind which is priceless.