Calls For Right To Medical Second Opinion

The BBC has reported that the parents of a girl who died in hospital two years ago are calling for patients to be given the right to an urgent second opinion if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously by medical staff.

The teen died after failures in treating her sepsis and it was later highlighted that the family’s concerns during her treatment were not noted or acted upon.

Now, the girl’s mother wants hospitals to bring in a rule that would give carers and patients the right to call for an urgent second opinion from a critical care team at the same hospital if they have concerns about their current care.

But what are your rights as a patient and how will this rule, if brought in, clarify, and enhance your rights?

Second opinions on medical treatment

At present, there is no legal right to a second opinion on medical treatment. However, a doctor should consider your circumstances and whether a second opinion is needed.

The General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, states that all doctors must respect a patient’s right to seek a second opinion. The Department of Health accepts that if a doctor thinks that it is in the best interest of the patient to refer for a second opinion, they should do so.

However, requests for second opinions, if approved, can involve being referred to a new doctor, which can take time and you may then be on a new waiting list to be seen. What happens in these emergency situations when a second opinion is needed urgently?

It seems that the creation of a new rule may assist in clarifying the process and rights of patients where time is of the essence.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Whilst our immune system normally fights infections, sometimes it attacks the body’s own organs and tissues. This is sepsis.

The importance of prompt diagnosis

Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency, and it is vital that it is diagnosed and treated quickly. The UK Sepsis Trust says that patients will have a significantly increased chance of survival if sepsis is diagnosed correctly and treated within an hour of symptoms being detected.

With early diagnosis, sepsis can be treated with antibiotics. However, if not treated early, sepsis can turn into septic shock and cause organs to fail. Statistics show that five people die with sepsis every hour in the UK.

Sometimes, medical negligence can result in a missed or delayed diagnosis of sepsis. As outlined above, if a diagnosis is delayed at all, it could result in catastrophic consequences.