Missed-diagnoses

According to Dr. David E. Newman-Toker, MD, most people will experience a missed or erroneous medical diagnosis at least once in their lives. Think about that. A misdiagnosis can lead to needless illness, untreated diseases, serious harm or even death. In addition to receiving an incorrect diagnosis, many patients will be told that they are fine, that their concern is "all in their head". Misdiagnoses are most common among women and minorities.

“Getting a second opinion means having the added benefit of another expert weighing in on your situation with his or her knowledge and expertise,” says Lonnie Fynskov, a nurse educator for the Cancer Education Program at Mayo Clinic. “He or she may be familiar with additional diagnostic tools and treatment options. Hopefully, that will increase your confidence on how best to proceed with your care. You may be nervous about telling your current doctor you are interested in seeking a second opinion. Even though this is your choice and doesn’t need an explanation, it may be helpful to outline why talking to another doctor is important to you. Many times, your current doctor will be happy to recommend someone. If you are unsure what to do next in your treatment, you should be seeking a second opinion automatically.”

Research from the Mayo Clinic revealed that almost 88% of patients who came to them seeking a second opinion left with either a clarified or changed diagnosis. Only 12% if the time was the initial diagnosis confirmed with no changes. And in 21% of the cases, patients received an entirely different diagnosis. Those are pretty big numbers.

The takeaway here is that any time you are unsure of what you are being told, the treatment you are receiving does not seem to be working or new symptoms have arisen, you should seek a second opinion. Don't be shy about speaking to your doctor about this. The majority of doctors will understand your concerns and encourage you to seek additional advice. Many will be happy to refer you to a specialist or other appropriate provider. If they are not, it may be time to think about changing doctors.

There is a saying among pilots that no matter what happens the Air Traffic Controller is going home that night to sleep in his own bed. The pilot may not be. The same thing is true of your medical diagnosis.