We trust our doctors to provide the best level of care — no matter if we have a mild case of the flu or we have a complicated and serious cancer case. The majority of Americans trust their physicians and are satisfied with the medical treatment they receive at their doctor appointments. However, there is always a risk your physician could make a mistake while diagnosing that could lead to non-discovery and non-treatment of a serious medical condition.
When you have a serious illness, it is always advised to get a second medical opinion. Here are just a couple of reasons why seeking out a second medical opinion is a good idea.
YOU WON’T BECOME A VICTIM TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Doctors are human beings, and they make mistakes, but under no circumstances, should your health be at risk because your doctor was negligent. Seeking a second opinion and being a patient advocate for a loved one are critical ways you can prevent yourself, your family or friend from becoming a victim to medical malpractice. If you think their diagnosis was off or you feel as though your symptoms are being ignored, you should trust your instincts and move forward with another doctor. You never know when pushing a little bit more could be the thing that ultimately saves your life.
YOU CAN AVOID UNNECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT
If a life-threatening illness is caught early enough, there’s a chance you won’t have to undergo additional medical treatment that might have become necessary if the illness had progressed further along. When a doctor sees symptoms of an illness early on, they are able to act more preventively — which typically means the indicated treatment is far less invasive.
When a disease is caught later on, however, there might be more drastic or more intensive medical care required to make you better or even save your life. In the absence of a second opinion, unnecessary treatment could also end up costing you thousands of dollars more than if your doctor had caught onto your symptoms earlier.
Getting a second opinion can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. It is important to protect yourself and your loved ones by insisting you receive a second opinion from an expert physician.
If you believe you have been a victim due to misdiagnosis by a medical professional in Georgia, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information, speak to one of our personal injury attorneys at the Fry | Goehring, at 404-969-1284.
