Getting a second medical opinion

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Getting a second medical opinion

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Sometimes we are approached by families who want to ask for a second opinion. But, they tell us sometimes they're afraid to do that. Because, maybe their physician will be upset. Or someone will be upset them doing that. And, what I'll tell them is, "Your physician is upset about you seeking a second opinion in order to feel comfortable about how your child is being treated." Then your probably with the wrong physician. I think it's extremely important. And it is the priority, should be the priority, for a physician to make sure that the family and the patient, if the patient is old enough, feel comfortable. That they are at the right place with the right people. I think that there are times when a diagnosis is very difficult to make. Or there is some doubt about the diagnosis. And I certainly think that if a family feels that the certainty is not there for them, and they want somebody else to look at it, then they should be encouraged to do it. And we certainly tell them that we are happy to have them do that. Because, we want in the end for the family to feel comfortable that they're doing everything for their child. And, that we are doing everything that should be done for their child.

See Stuart E. Siegel, MD's video on Getting a second medical opinion...

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Stuart E. Siegel, MD

Director, Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Before recently shifting his focus to international medicine, Stuart Siegel, MD, was Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology for 35 years and the founding director of the the Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Professor and Head of the Division of Hematology-Oncology Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. He remains a leader in supportive care and research in pediatric oncology, with a special focus on neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Ewing Sarcoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors. From developing the first pediatric protective environment in 1971 for children undergoing intensive chemotherapy, to pioneering current efforts to develop academic and clinical care programs nationally and locally for adolescents and young adults with cancer, Dr. Siegel’s contributions have revolutionized the field of pediatric oncology. Dr. Siegel has been honored for his work by the American Cancer Society, Children Foundation, the Cancer Foundation, the Chase Foundation, Padres Contra El Cancer, the Israel Cancer Research Fund and Ronald McDonald House Charities, where he is a member of the National Board, and has consistently been listed among the nation’s top doctors in such publications asAmerica’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. He is a father of one son, Joshua; grandfather of David and Elijah; and lives in Pacific Palisades with his wife of seven years.

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Transcription: 
Sometimes we are approached by families who want to ask for a second opinion. But, they tell us sometimes they're afraid to do that. Because, maybe their physician will be upset. Or someone will be upset them doing that. And, what I'll tell them is, "Your physician is upset about you seeking a second opinion in order to feel comfortable about how your child is being treated." Then your probably with the wrong physician. I think it's extremely important. And it is the priority, should be the priority, for a physician to make sure that the family and the patient, if the patient is old enough, feel comfortable. That they are at the right place with the right people. I think that there are times when a diagnosis is very difficult to make. Or there is some doubt about the diagnosis. And I certainly think that if a family feels that the certainty is not there for them, and they want somebody else to look at it, then they should be encouraged to do it. And we certainly tell them that we are happy to have them do that. Because, we want in the end for the family to feel comfortable that they're doing everything for their child. And, that we are doing everything that should be done for their child.