There are various scenarios in which patients would likely want a second opinion from another doctor. A common experience among healthy individuals who undergo a routine executive checkup is to be told that something has turned up in the laboratory results that needs to be evaluated further. These people often have no symptoms and are not ready to hear bad news about their health. But then they are asked to take another test, which leads them to see a specialist who subsequently recommends a procedure, such as cardiac catheterization, that will prevent a future catastrophe, such as a heart attack. Shocked by such a proposal, the patient naturally wants to be sure that he really needs the surgery, considering that he never even thought of being sick. Another scenario is that of a sick patient who would prefer to hear from another expert that the feared diagnosis probably has flaws or that a more conservative form of treatment will make it better, even without surgery. However, some patients who have only visited a doctor once or more would like to go to someone they trust, especially if the doctor-patient relationship is not well established. The truth is that doctors also ask their colleagues for their opinion regarding their diagnosis and management of some problematic cases. They discuss interesting cases in their grand rounds and conferences. And it is not uncommon for doctors to have different opinions, based on their experience and clinical expertise. Furthermore, it is also possible that a second opinion does not lead the patient to a decision or acceptance of his situation, but instead leads him to seek a third or fourth opinion until he finds the answers to his questions or he likes what .... .. half of the paper ......minimal risks. It is not necessary to agree with the second doctor's recommendations. In some cases you may want to reconsider your first doctor's advice. Sometimes, the second doctor may give similar advice to that of the first doctor. However, if you feel you need a third opinion, which is not at all irregular, proceed until you are sure of your decision. Works CitedWebMD. Second opinions. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/second-opinions;AHA. Getting a Second Medical Opinion http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Getting-a-Second-Medical-Opinion_UCM_434325_Article.jsp; CNN. Five diagnoses that require a second opinion. http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/30/ep.second.opinion/index.html;Van de Graaff, E. Never hesitate to seek a second medical opinion.http://www. kevinmd .com/blog/2010/11/hesitate-seek-medical-opinion.html