I had two patients today who had been seen at another facility and came for a second opinion.

While one might feel flattered that patients self-seek you out for a second opinion. But what does this say about us as humans. Or was this a reflection of the particular pathology they had. Or was it something deeper still, something to do with how we as a group (doctors) are perceived by the patients.

I suspect that the reason is a combination of the above. And yet each time I meet these patients who come for a second opinion I find that all they need is a gentle touch, a confident demeanour and no pressure to make a decision on the spot. But most of all what they respond to is reassurance that they have somebody who is with them on their journey… we don’t necessarily have to have all the solutions, but we need to have all the honesty to tell them when we don’t have all the answers…

But trust is a two-way street…and one has to give some to get some…