Checklist
A good second opinion request states one clear question, gives a short history and attaches complete, dated reports and images. Use this template to organise the request before you send it to a hospital in India or to IndiaMedica’s free case review. Ask your current doctor to explain anything unclear first, and tell them you are seeking another view.
A second opinion is a review of your diagnosis or treatment plan by another specialist. Healthwatch England notes that doctors are expected to respect a patient’s wish to seek one. The clearer your request, the more useful the opinion. Copy the headings below into an email or document and fill each one. Leave nothing out on purpose. If a report is missing, say so.
Patient details
- Full name as in passport.
- Date of birth and sex.
- Country of residence and nationality.
- Contact email and phone number with country code.
- Preferred language for the reply.
- Name and contact of the person sending the request, if not the patient.
The question you want answered
- Current diagnosis as stated by your doctor.
- Treatment your doctor has recommended.
- The specific question, for example ‘Is this diagnosis confirmed by the reports?’ or ‘What treatment options exist?’
- Any treatment you have been told is not possible, and why.
- How soon you need a reply, if your doctor has said the matter is urgent.
- Whether you are considering travelling to India for treatment.
Medical history
- Main symptoms and when they started.
- Previous treatments, surgery and dates.
- Other medical conditions.
- Current medicines with doses.
- Allergies.
- Height and weight.
Attachments checklist
- Most recent specialist letter or clinic note.
- Blood and other test results, latest first, with dates.
- Imaging reports and the images in DICOM format via a secure link.
- Biopsy or histopathology reports, if any.
- Operation notes and discharge summaries from earlier treatment.
- A one-page timeline of events if the history is long.
Consent and privacy
- A sentence confirming the patient consents to the reports being reviewed.
- Who the opinion may be shared with, such as your doctor at home.
- A request to know who will see the reports and how they are stored.
- Confirmation that you are sending only what is needed for the opinion.
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What should you do before sending the request?
Healthwatch advises first asking your current clinician to go over the diagnosis and explain anything unclear. If your condition is serious or urgent, ask whether waiting for another opinion could affect your health. Keep your current doctor informed. A second opinion is more useful when both doctors can see the same records.
What a second opinion is not
A second opinion is advice. It does not replace your treating doctor, and the specialist who gives it may need more tests or an examination before advising firmly. IndiaMedica does not give medical opinions ourselves. We pass your case to specialists and share their written replies.
Questions people ask
How long should a second opinion request be?
Keep the written part short, ideally a page, with a clear question and a timeline. Put detail in the attached reports. Specialists read many cases. A focused question and complete, dated reports help them give a more useful opinion.
Do I need my doctor’s permission to get a second opinion?
You do not usually need permission to request your own records or seek another view. Telling your doctor is helpful, because they can send records and explain the reasoning behind their plan. Check how your own health system handles referrals.
Sources
- Healthwatch England – Getting a second opinion about your care
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (India Code)
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.