Sometimes, depending upon an individual's insurance coverage, a second opinion is in fact required. And I think the medical community is very open to the concept of second opinions, so patients should not feel that they are going to somehow upset their physician by asking if they could get a second opinion.
ANNOUNCER: Step four following diagnosis is to seek out information.
CAROLYN M. CLANCY, MD: When facing a new diagnosis, there are multiple sources of information. The first source is going to be the physician who ordered the tests, or for whatever reason, found out about the new diagnosis and has shared that information with you. But, from the Internet, from all kinds of resources, working with a librarian or others who are very savvy about obtaining electronic information, you can learn a whole lot more about what the implications of the diagnosis are, what it means for people like you and that can be very, very empowering.
ANNOUNCER: Doctors can help recommend reliable sources of information, such as books, patient support organizations, and sites on the Internet. But a patient should check information they come across with their doctor.
ROBERT MUSCALUS, D.O.: The Internet can be a great source of information. There are a lot of well-recognized, respected organizations that provide very good information. Patients need to be careful about information that makes claims that sound simply too good to be true. If they announce breakthroughs or discoveries not known before, there should be some caution with using that information for their own healthcare.
