No unnecessary surgery by doctor second opinion

Medical second opinion can spare operations

21/12/2013

Obtaining a second medical opinion can often protect against unnecessary surgery. This results from an analysis of the German company health insurance (BKK).

Second opinion can protect against surgery
Often one can protect oneself against unnecessary operations by consulting a second doctor first. This follows a report of the news magazine „Focus“ According to an analysis of the German company health insurance fund (BKK) of 329 insured, who were facing a major orthopedic surgery, for example on the back, knee, shoulder, hip, hand or foot.

80 percent avoidable
According to BKK boss Achim Kolanoski, "67 percent of those affected were able to find an alternative treatment after consultation with a second physician." In spine surgeries, we can prove that even 80 percent are preventable, "says BKK boss Achim Kolanoski.

Number of operations increased
One reason for many unnecessary interventions could be "due to compensation". Between 2005 and 2011, the number of operations in the German hospitals increased by around 25 percent. This is the answer of the Federal Government to a request of the parliamentary group „The left“ out. From around 12.1 million in 2005 to 15.3 million in 2011, the number of operations performed increased accordingly. According to the leftists, "Inappropriate system incentives mean that surgeries are more likely to be performed on the basis of compensation instead of medical necessity". Unnecessary surgery not only burdens the patient's body, it also increases healthcare spending. (Ad)

Picture: Martin Büdenbender