second opinion

In legal cases, a second opinion which contradicts the opinion of a jointly retained expert may be disregarded as not being impartial.{{cite book|author1=Nancy F. Atlas|author2=Stephen K. Huber|author3=E. Wendy Trachte-Huber|title=Alternative Dispute Resolution: The Litigator's Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7JyLqLdf_04C&pg=PA262|year=2000|publisher=American Bar Association|isbn=978-1-57073-812-8|pages=262}}

In cases such as car repairs, a second opinion should be obtained in writing, and the original garage given an opportunity to rectify matters.{{cite web | url=http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e/cars_garage_repairs_and_services_e/cars_problems_with_the_quality_of_garage_repairs_or_service.htm | title=Problems with the quality of garage repairs or service | publisher=CAB website | work=Citizens Advice Bureau | accessdate=24 February 2014}} In the case of clients' disputes with domestic building contractors, the builder may seek a second opinion to confirm their view.{{cite web | url=http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/defective-work-disputes/handling-customer-complaints | title=Handling customer complaints | publisher=Queensland Building and Construction Commission | work=QBCC website | accessdate=20 April 2015| date=2014-05-02 }}

A second opinion can be a visit to a physician other than the one a patient has previously been seeing in order to get more information or to hear a differing point of view.{{cite book|author=Kyle Beardsley|title=The Mediation Dilemma|url=https://archive.org/details/mediationdilemma00bear|url-access=registration|date=18 August 2011|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-0-8014-5003-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mediationdilemma00bear/page/37 37]}}{{cite book|author=British Medical Association|title=Medical Ethics Today: The BMA's Handbook of Ethics and Law|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hln78oo-DioC&pg=PT253|date=31 January 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-4443-5564-2|pages=253}} Some reasons for which a patient may seek out a second opinion include:

• Physician recommends surgery.
• Physician diagnoses patient with serious illness (such as cancer).{{cite web| url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-national-survey-shows-almost-a-third-of-second-medical-opinions-result-in-different-treatments-54284227.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224092502/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-national-survey-shows-almost-a-third-of-second-medical-opinions-result-in-different-treatments-54284227.html| archive-date = 2013-12-24| title = New National Survey Shows Almost a Third of Second Medical Opinions Result... -- re> ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 17 /PRNewswire/ --}}
• Physician recommends a treatment for the patient other than what the patient believes is necessary.
• When physician recommends elective surgery, it may be required by the insurance plan. In other cases, insurance will not pay for a second opinion.{{Cite web | url=http://www.patientadvocate.org/index.php?p=691 | title=Apply for a Scholarship | Patient Advocate Foundation}}
• Patient believes they have a condition that the physician diagnosed incorrectly or failed to diagnose.
• The physician themself recommends a second opinion.{{cite journal|last1=Chiosea|first1=SI|last2=Peel|first2=R|last3=Barnes|first3=EL|last4=Seethala|first4=RR|title=Salivary type tumors seen in consultation.|journal=Virchows Archiv|date=April 2009|volume=454|issue=4|pages=457–66|pmid=19271235|doi=10.1007/s00428-009-0742-x|s2cid=28378251}}

Different payment procedures apply to different second opinions. For example, some health plans pay for second opinions for members; many employers offer free second opinion benefits through companies like Grand Rounds or similar companies; and some states have public programs for cancer second opinions.{{cite web|title=A second opinion could save your life|website=Los Angeles Times|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-healthcare-watch-20150525-story.html|date=24 May 2015}}

Second opinions may also be obtained by employers.{{cite book|author=Lisa Granger|title=Best Practices in Occupational Health, Safety, Workers Compensation and Claims Management for Employers: Assisting Employers in Navigating "The Road to Zero"|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldMjr6g5gfEC&pg=PA254|year=2010|publisher=Universal-Publishers|isbn=978-1-59942-812-3|pages=159}}

Professional mediators may be asked for second opinions regarding whether to proceed to trial or seek a settlement instead.{{cite book|author=Victoria Pynchon|title=Success as a Mediator For Dummies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L_WqsDI65TcC&pg=PA89|date=10 April 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-07862-4|pages=89–90}}

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Category:Practice of medicine

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