Should I seek a second medical opinion?

A second medical opinion is an independent expert assessment of an existing diagnosis or treatment recommendation. It is provided by a doctor who has the relevant experience and who has not been involved in your treatment up to that point.

The specialist reviews the available findings and test results. They assess whether the diagnosis is well founded and evaluate the proposed treatment from a medical perspective. They will then recommend how to proceed.

A second opinion can be particularly helpful if a treatment could have far-reaching consequences or important questions remain unanswered. This may apply in the following situations:

• Before a planned, non-urgent procedure  
• If you have doubts about a recommended treatment
• Before treatment involving significant risks or side effects
• If you have multiple medical conditions
• If you have doubts about the diagnosis or need for treatment 
• If you feel that you have not received enough information

“Medicine can accomplish incredible things. But not everything that is medically possible makes sense for every individual,” says Basil Caduff, a specialist in internal medicine and retired chief consultant. He provides advice at Café Med, an initiative run by Akademie Menschenmedizin, where experienced professionals answer medical queries free of charge.

Even standard medical treatment can involve considerable changes for those affected, such as taking medication over a long period or attending regular check-ups. These burdens should be discussed during consultations, alongside the medical risks.

In emergencies and when urgent treatment is needed, waiting for a second opinion must not delay necessary care. A second opinion is usually unnecessary for minor, uncomplicated conditions.

Yes. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), patients have the right to seek a professional second opinion from another healthcare professional of their choice.

Nevertheless, before making an appointment, check with your health insurer which process applies to your insurance model. The right to a second opinion does not mean that every consultation you arrange yourself will automatically be covered.

A second medical opinion can be billed under basic insurance. Check in advance whether the planned consultation is covered in your case and which conditions apply. Even if it is billed under basic insurance, this does not automatically mean that the advice is free for you.

Contact the Sanitas medical care advice team. They will help you arrange a second medical opinion. Explain which diagnosis or treatment you would like to have assessed and which questions you want answered.

Sanitas also offers initial guidance through telemedicine consultations with Sanitas Med and Medgate. With the TelMed Plus model, you can obtain a second medical opinion by phone at no additional cost.

You can also get medical advice through the Sanitas Medgate app. For more complex issues, a face-to-face appointment with a specialist may be necessary. Get advice on which approach is best suited to your situation.

No, you do not necessarily have to tell doctor providing your treatment. Even so, an open conversation is generally a good idea. It gives your doctor an opportunity to address your concerns.

“Sometimes people simply have a bad feeling because they don’t feel qualified to assess the situation themselves,” says Caduff. Before consulting another specialist, it may therefore help to discuss any unanswered questions again with your current medical practice.

Be as specific as possible about your concerns and what you hope to gain from a second opinion. You could begin the conversation by saying:

“I’m still considering your recommendation. I’d like to seek a second opinion so that I can make a carefully considered decision. Can you recommend an independent specialist?”

If your doctor responds irritably, explain that a second opinion would help you feel more confident about your decision. If they are not supportive, consider whether you feel heard, respected and well cared for by the practice.

Look for a specialist in the relevant medical field who has extensive experience with your condition and the possible treatments. Ask how often they treat people with your diagnosis and how familiar they are with the proposed procedure.

Financial independence is also important. The second specialist should not stand to gain financially from the procedure or treatment they are assessing. It may therefore be advisable to choose someone from another hospital who is not involved in the planned treatment.

For cancer, a specialist centre may be a good option. At multidisciplinary tumour board meetings, specialists from different fields discuss individual cases and develop treatment recommendations. This means that expertise from several medical disciplines contributes to the assessment.

Your current medical practice, professional medical associations and patient advice centres can help you find a suitable specialist. If you are looking for an accessible starting point, Café Med also provides straightforward initial advice. Akademie Menschenmedizin offers this service free of charge and without an appointment. Experienced retired specialists help clarify outstanding medical questions.

“We explain diagnoses and discharge reports and assess whether procedures or medication are appropriate,” says Caduff. Café Med does not provide treatment. However, its consultations can help answer initial questions and prepare you for a subsequent medical appointment.

The specialist will need your existing medical records to assess your situation. This helps avoid unnecessary repeat examinations. If possible, gather the following documents:

• Medical reports, such as diagnosis and discharge reports
• Findings from previous examinations
• Medical images, such as radiological scans
• Treatment recommendation and details of your specific question

Ask the medical practice treating you to provide copies of the relevant documents or forward them. Also bring a clearly worded question so that the specialist understands what you want the additional assessment to clarify.

“The aim of the consultation is for you to feel sufficiently informed afterwards to make the best decision for your personal circumstances,” Caduff emphasises. A written list of questions can help you achieve this. Before your appointment, consider what you already know and what still needs explaining:

• Diagnosis: Do I understand exactly what condition I have?
• Treatment goal: Do I understand what the recommended treatment is intended to achieve?
• Options: Which treatments and alternatives are available?
• Chances of success: How likely is each option to work, and how many patients benefit?
• Benefits and risks: What benefits, side effects, and risks can I expect?
• Urgency: Can I take time to decide, or do I need to act quickly?
• Information gaps: What further information do I need to make a decision?

Caduff also recommends asking how much time is planned for the consultation when making the appointment. There should be enough time for you to ask questions and understand the answers.

You may also wish to bring someone with you to listen and take notes. This allows you to focus on the conversation and review the information afterwards.

First, clarify where the experts disagree: the diagnosis, the need for treatment or the choice of method. “It’s often not a question of right or wrong. Sometimes you are choosing between equally valid options,” Caduff explains.

He recommends reviewing both consultations in your own time and identifying the key points behind each recommendation. For each option, note the reasoning, expected benefits and potential drawbacks. This will help you see which aspects the specialists have weighted differently.

Alongside the likelihood of medical success, consider side effects, treatment duration and the time commitment involved. Think about which outcomes matter most to you and which burdens you are prepared to accept. Discuss these priorities with the specialist treating you.

Ask yourself: Am I missing medical information, or am I finding it difficult to decide what matters most to me? If technical questions remain unanswered, a third opinion from a specialist centre, for example, may be helpful. Also clarify which costs are covered in advance. The final decision about what matters most to you remains yours.

However, continually seeking further opinions can increase uncertainty. Important: Seeking a second opinion does not necessarily mean changing practices. You can take the findings back to your treating specialist and discuss any outstanding questions.

If you still cannot decide, ask your specialist whether it is safe to wait. Postponing treatment because you are uncertain is only an option if it is medically justifiable. “Medicine should be sensible rather than consumer-driven. Decisions should suit the individual, not be dictated by a billing catalogue,” says Caduff.