Ethical and legal implications in seeking and providing a second medical opinion.
Ethical and legal implications arise both when seeking a second medical opinion and when providing one. There has been debate as to whether a second opinion for a patient is a right or a concession and whilst today most would consider it to be a patient's right, there are nevertheless some disadvantages associated with seeking a second opinion. This article addresses the reasons why patients seek second opinions, it considers when physicians themselves should refer patients and it covers the issues involved in providing a second opinion particularly in cases where there is the potential for an allegation of malpractice. Finally, the arguments for and against treating patients who are referred for a second opinion are addressed. This paper has been prepared following a round table discussion on this subject, which was addressed during a symposium on Ethics in Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy held in Kos in 2006.
Axon
Anthony
A
Department of Gastroenterology, General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Hassan
Majid
M
Niv
Yaron
Y
Beglinger
Christoph
C
Rokkas
Theodore
T
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice; D010820:Physicians; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*