Any number of issues may prompt you to seek medical examination at an Ohio doctor’s office. Whether you’re acting on your own behalf or as a parent of a minor child, you can expect that the doctor in question will make a correct diagnosis or will let you know if he or she is having trouble determining an underlying cause of your or your child’s condition.
In certain circumstances, you may not feel comfortable with what a doctor has told you. Perhaps he or she has said there’s nothing medically wrong with you, but you are convinced that there is because you’re not feeling well. This would be one of many instances that warrant a second opinion. If the average doctor would likely be able to diagnosis a particular condition and your doctor fails in this duty, it may result in a medical negligence injury.
Reasons for seeking a second opinion
In many aspects of life, it helps to seek more than one person’s opinion. For instance, you might be trying to decide which vehicle you should buy. Speaking with others who have owned a particular brand or who are well versed in motor vehicle sales can be helpful. Regarding medical health, the issues on the following list definitely warrant seeking a second opinion:
- A doctor has disregarded your symptoms or complaints of ill health.
- Your doctor has diagnosed you with a rare or terminal illness, such as mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.
- A physician has recommended a particular treatment for an illness, and you believe there are alternative options available.
- Your doctor does not specialize in a particular field, and you would like to consult someone who does.
- You don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor or he or she has not explained things in a way you understand.
Many Ohio medical patients worry that their doctors will get angry if they seek a second opinion. As a medical patient, you have rights, and you deserve the highest quality care available according to state laws and accepted safety standards. You may speak with as many doctors as you like until you are satisfied that you have obtained answers to your questions and are comfortable with the recommended course of action.
If a legal problem arises
What if a doctor refuses you care if you ask to seek a second opinion? What if one doctor diagnoses a condition that another doctor of similar skill and expertise has missed? There are many issues of medical negligence that can place you at risk for serious, if not fatal, injuries. Many Ohio patients have gone to court over such issues.