When a second opinion is worth getting
Particularly where the recommendation is irreversible, where more than one valid approach exists, or where the plan and your symptoms do not seem to match.
- You have been advised removal of an entire kidney for a small tumour
- Open surgery has been proposed for a stone that may be treatable endoscopically
- Prostate surgery has been advised without a flow test or PSA
- A biopsy has been recommended on the strength of a single PSA reading
- A DJ stent has been in place for months with no removal plan
- You have been quoted a cost that seems disproportionate to the procedure
What to send
Reports rather than a summary of them, because the details matter.
- CT KUB, ultrasound, MRI or CT reports — and the images if you have the CD or link
- Blood tests: creatinine, PSA, haemoglobin, sugar
- Previous discharge summaries and operation notes
- Current medication list, including blood thinners
- A short note on your symptoms and what you have been told so far
What you get back
A clear statement of what the reports show, whether the proposed treatment is reasonable, what the alternatives are, and what would happen if you did nothing for now. If the original plan is sound, you will be told so plainly — a second opinion that automatically disagrees is worth as little as one that automatically agrees.
Online consultations suit report reviews and follow-ups. Anything needing examination — a lump, a hernia, a stricture assessment — needs an in-person visit.
Second Opinion / Online Urology Consultation — common questions
How do I send my reports?
Photograph or scan them and send them on WhatsApp, or bring the originals and CDs to the clinic. Clear images of the report pages are essential.
Is an online consultation as good as visiting?
For report review, treatment planning and follow-up, it works well. Anything requiring physical examination needs an in-person visit.
Will my treating doctor mind?
A reasonable doctor will not. Second opinions are routine practice in surgery and oncology everywhere.
When should I see a urologist at all?
Blood in the urine, a weak stream, repeated urine infections, flank pain, a scrotal lump, difficulty passing urine, or an abnormal PSA or kidney scan report.
Reviewed by Dr. Kinjal Banerjee, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DNB (Urology) — Urologist, Renal Transplant & Robotic Surgeon, Faridabad. This page explains second opinion / online urology consultation in general terms; your own treatment plan depends on your reports and examination.