280.000 SECOND OPINIONS/CONSULTATIONS – TERMINOLOGY

280.999           Second Opinion: 

MSSNY makes recommendations for and lends positive support to procedures and programs that promise improvement in quality care for patients.  To clarify the terminology involved in Second Opinion Programs, the MSSNY offers the following statement:   When a second opinion is requested on issues of medical necessity or feasibility of a specific treatment recommendation, this opinion must be provided by a physician or surgeon who has completed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved residency training in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease or condition for which a specific treatment has been proposed.  This should be termed a second opinion.  An opinion relative to surgical technique on the other hand must be provided by a surgeon who has completed ACGME approved residency training in the specific treatment proposed.  This option should be termed a second surgical opinion.  If an opinion is desired regarding the relative merit of all treatment options, including the proposed treatment, such opinion should be termed a consultation.  These opinions may be obtained from any physician who has completed ACGME approved residency training in the treatment of the disease process or condition involved.  In keeping with the opinion of the AMA Judicial Council (Report A, A-85) the consultant should be provided with a history of the case and such other information as the consultant may need.  (HOD 1987-15; Reaffirmed HOD 2013; Reaffirmed HOD 2023; Reaffirmed HOD 2024)