Patrick F. Sheehy, MD, an oncologist in Newport Beach, Calif., initially considered offering second opinions through his Web site three years ago, but liability and ethical concerns led him to change his mind. Instead, Dr. Sheehy posted a note on the site stating that he'd provide a second opinion only if patients visited him for an examination. They also have to bring their medical records, including x-rays and lab results. Depending on the site, the second opinion is forwarded to the patient, the specialist or the patient's treating physician. Turnaround is 24 hours to 14 days.
Most sites specialize in pathology and oncology.
Both of these sites are open to inquiries from interested physicians who meet their posted criteria. To obtain a second opinion, patients generally must fill out a form authorizing a commercial laboratory, hospital or treating physician to release tissue slides, medical records or other data to the site operators. The sites then ask the laboratory for tissue slides or medical records. But however the sites work, they make some observers uneasy. Those types of second opinions are common and done one physician to another.