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Getting a 2nd opinion from inside the Mayo?
Spine Health | Last Active: Oct 3, 2019 | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for the support! In our experience, this kind of reaction would be cause to run far, far away from said medical provider. We continue to believe in the Mayo Clinic, however, based on our previous successes, but now wonder if this is some unspoken rule we've violated. The nurse's assertion is that "many doctors consult on a diagnosis", which I've witnessed firsthand. In this case, however,the doctor in question had never looked at the imaging before the consult and 15 minutes later she was diagnosed. Nobody else was involved.
I guess the real question is, does the Mayo have a formal process / mechanism / office for requesting a second opinion / consult without patients having to worry about being "black balled" by a nurse / doctor with a sensitive ego?
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@conduit, I'm sorry to hear of the experience you've had when requesting a second opinion within Mayo Clinic. You're correct in that Mayo Clinic providers work in teams. It is likely that the recommendations made for your wife did not come from one surgeon alone. However, it is your right to ask for a second consideration or to consult with the team again. It is never "offensive," to gather all possible information and to be comfortable with your team and the treatment choices you make together.
My hunch is that your request for a "second opinion" has been exacerbated by choice of words and miscommunication. I strongly encourage you contact the Office of Patient Experience. You'll find the contact information for all 3 Mayo campuses on this webpage: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience
Please call or write to them. This is exactly why the Office of Patient Experience exists. They are there to help.