How to Get a Second Opinion
Thesecondopinion provides services to adults in California who have been diagnosed with new or recurrent cancer. A telephone call or email is all it takes to get the process started. A referral from a physician, while welcomed, is not required. Our Program Coordinator will ask for some basic information and will explain our process and what we need to get started. To appear before a review panel:
You must be able to attend in person and spend two to three hours with us.
You must have received a cancer diagnosis from your own physicians, and have been offered a treatment plan.
You wish to clarify your diagnosis or further explore your treatment options.
Copies of your written medical records, plus necessary pathology slides, x-rays and scans, can be available to us at least 10 days before your panel date.
You are not in the process of obtaining concurrent "second" opinions.
Our Program Coordinator will be happy to send you a more detailed explanation of our service and the forms we need to proceed. You can save time by clicking to download the Instruction Sheet below. It describes what we need to get started, including Forms I through V also below, which can be clicked to download. However, we ask that you please read the instruction sheet first.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CALL OR E-MAIL US BEFORE YOU FILL OUT OR SUBMIT FORMS I – V. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE BEFORE WE START TO RECEIVE YOUR RECORDS.
- Instruction Sheet
- Form I — Registration and Authorization Form
- Form II — Medical Intake Form
- Form III — Patient Health Information Release
(You will need several, one for each physician or facility)- Form IV — Physicians and medical facilities
- Form V — Statistical Questionnaire
We will help to determine what information is needed and will assist in obtaining it. Our Medical Director will do a preliminary evaluation as your records arrive, and may contact you to make sure your case is appropriate for our service. We make an initial estimate of your panel date after you register, and schedule you when we have the necessary records.