According to several clinical studies, a second opinion from radiologists or pathologists can uncover 10-50% of diagnostic errors. However, medical errors remain one of the leading causes of death in every country across the globe. This May, the US Department of Health and Human Services published a new report estimating the incidents of harm to Medicare patients throughout their hospital stay. Based on the report, they uncovered that nearly 1 quarter of the reported incidents led to increased treatment caused to rectify them with a conclusion that 43% of the incidents were avoidable. 

In widely quoted statistics, 5.2 million avoidable medical errors in India are reported annually. According to research data by a professor, Ashish Jha, Harvard University, 3 million medical errors resulting in death were reported in the last decade. Hence, in 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implemented a National Patient Safety framework. 

Second opinion, a multi-disciplinary patient-centric care model reduces risk and prevents diagnostic error while saving the expenditure. It also empowers the patients to make an informed decision according to their conditions and be backed by the best possible care available. According to several medical experts empowering patients guided by suitable experts is the key to reducing medical error and optimizing outcomes through collaborative and transparent means.