Surgical Second Opinion

MISSION STATEMENT

More than any other diagnosis, a diagnosis of a condition that requires surgery is frightening to most patients and families. But many conditions, ranging from a simple hernia or hemorrhoid to life threatening conditions like cancers do require surgery. Once that diagnosis is made you are usually referred to a surgeon. If the surgeon recommends surgery IT IS OUR HUMBLE AND EDUCATED OPINION THAT YOU SHOULD SEEK A SECOND OPINION. In order to proceed with a second opinion you should get as much information as possible from the diagnosing surgeon, including what type of surgery is recommended, in what hospital is the surgery to be done, approximate period of hospitalization, period of recovery and return to work, the prognosis associated with this condition and, very importantly, if this operation comes under this surgeon's specialty. Obviously our description relates to surgery that is elective and planned and not an emergency.

A second opinion is not questioning the opinion or treatment options suggested by the primary surgeon. In Medicine, as in so many other fields, there is more than one way to solve a problem and we at “THE INSTITUTE FOR SECOND SURGICAL OPINION“ have taken up this endeavor to explore all medical and surgical options available. Our intentions are purely prompted by the belief that every patient should have the opportunity to seek an opinion confirming the original diagnosis and treatment plan or to consider different options, either surgical or medical. It is NOT our intention to steer the patient away from the primary surgeon. Nor are we attempting to steer the patient to a different surgeon or hospital. 

A second opinion can be sought from any competent surgeon in the specialty of what has been diagnosed. We strive to make getting an informed second opinion easier. We offer a comprehensive evaluation of your entire case. We will conduct a thorough examination; meticulously go through your investigations, including the original surgeon’s findings, blood tests and available scans. If any further tests are necessary we would request them. Having gone through your entire case, we will go over with you and your family our findings and agree or disagree with the original findings and suggested treatment. This includes confirming the diagnosis and then the necessity for surgery. What do we mean by this? You should explore to see if you absolutely need surgery or if there are alternative treatments available. If there are alternatives to surgery we will discuss such alternatives with their respective advantages and disadvantages. If we agree with the original surgeon we would gladly state so and send you back to him or her with our blessings. This, therefore, adds credence to the surgeon's plan and expresses satisfaction with his or her professional opinion and plan.

This service is being rendered by a team of experienced surgeons headed by, Dr. M.K.M. Zawahir, M.D., F.A.C.S., an American Board Certified Surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He had his surgical training in the U.S. and has been practicing surgery in New York for the last fifty three years.

How to Avail Yourself of Our Services

The service is offered remotely as a teleconferencing consultation. The consultant surgeon is located in New York, USA. The steps that have to be taken are the following:

When you have seen the primary surgeon and all the necessary investigations have been completed and he or she has arrived at a diagnosis you would be told what needs to be done. If it is surgery that needs to be performed the surgeon would explain the kind of surgery and what is involved. Even if he does not explain it, it is in your best interest to find out the following:

1.    What is the name of the procedure? Please ask the surgeon to write the procedure in medical terms including if laparoscopy ("key-hole surgery") is involved.

2.    Number of days expected to be in the hospital.

3.    Possible complications.

4.    Total expected cost of the hospitalization, surgery, anesthesia and any other incidental charges.

In most practices, your surgeon would fix a date for your surgery and give you instructions. If you are aware of the necessity for a second opinion please let him know that you will get back to him or her to make a definite date after discussing with family. But, as in most cases, patients are already quite disturbed with the prospect of surgery and walk out having already made that commitment. So when you make the decision to seek a second opinion you can call his or her office and let them know you will confirm the date later.

Now, to make the arrangement to seek the second opinion with us, you have to call and make an appointment. Since the time between IST and the corresponding time in the U.S. is quite different you may have to leave a message and we will call you to make the appointment. Prior to having the meeting you need to send us all of the test reports that have been done on you including blood tests, scans, endoscopy, x-rays, ECG, etc. 

Scanned reports can be sent through email at zawahirmd@gmail.com or by WhatsApp to +91 94453 31979.

The privacy of all medical records and other individually identifiable health information shall be protected at all times. Information relating to a patient’s health care history, diagnoses, condition, treatment, or evaluation shall be considered individually identifiable health information. Confidentiality of this health information shall be maintained at all times according to HIPAA regulations, and may only be disclosed with the express written consent of the patient.

Non-individually identifiable health information, (e.g. health information that cannot be linked to a specific patient) is not included within the definition of protected health information.

At the examination, the patient may be alone or with an attendant.

We need to communicate only in Tamil or English.  

There is NO FEE for this service.

To avail yourself of this service please call +91 94453 31979. To avoid a toll call please use WhatsApp to call. An initial evaluation of the available information will be taken over the phone before making the appointment for examination and opinion.

After Your Consultation

After we have reviewed all of your physical findings and submitted medical documents we will render an opinion on the best course of action to take. This will be discussed with you in depth. It should be noted that our opinion is just that, an opinion of one surgeon. Your care is ultimately up to you. The final decision on the course of your treatment lies with you and your other consultants. Our only objective is to ensure that all of your options have been thoroughly explored and explained to you.