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First comes the diagnosis, and then comes the second opinion.
The number of patients seeking additional advice for a diagnosis is growing and patients are heading online.
That second medical opinion is coming from a growing number of startups contracting with specialists and services sponsored by established medical centers, such as Cleveland Clinic and Massachusetts General.
Studies show as many as 20 percent of patients will seek a second opinion; while in specialties such as oncology, the rate greater than 50 percent, according to media reports.
Recent research has found that second opinions often result in different diagnoses and treatments.
According to the study, published in April in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers reviewed 6,791 second opinions finding changes in a diagnosis about 15 percent of the time and changes in treatment 37 percent of the time.
About 60 percent of the patients ended up following the recommendations from the second opinion, according to the study.
Read more about the new ways patients are getting second opinions at WSJ.com (a subscription may be required).
