Straight answers
Questions people ask first
Mostly variations of “why would a hospital do this for free?” — which is a sensible thing to wonder.
Is it really free? What is the catch?
Yes, and the catch is that there isn't one, which we know sounds like something a website would say. Our doctors review these cases after their OPD hours. It costs us their time and nothing else. Some patients who are treated well at a difficult moment later choose to be treated here, and that is a good enough return for us. You are under no obligation whatsoever.
Will somebody call me to sell treatment?
No. Nobody from our office will call you to book a consultation or a package. We ask for your permission to contact you as a separate, optional tick box on the consent screen, and if you leave it unticked we will not contact you for anything except your case. If you want to consult us after reading the opinion, you contact us.
Who actually reads my reports?
One NMC-registered specialist from our panel, plus whoever triages the case when it arrives. Your opinion is signed with the reviewing doctor's name and registration number. Every time a doctor opens your case it is recorded in an access log, which is how we can answer honestly if you ever ask who has seen your records.
I don't have all my test reports. Can I still send my case?
Yes. Send what you have. We will tell you exactly which documents are missing, and the 48-hour clock starts once your file is complete rather than when you first submitted. We would rather ask you for one more report than give you an opinion based on a guess.
My reports are photos taken on my phone. Is that acceptable?
Completely fine, and it is what most people send. Hold the phone flat above the page in good light and check the text is readable before you upload. A blurry report means we have to come back and ask again, which delays your answer.
What if you disagree with my doctor?
We will say so, explain why, and tell you what we would consider instead. But we will not tell you to stop the treatment your doctor has advised, because your doctor has examined you and we have not. The most useful thing we give you is the list of questions to take back to them. Most of the time we agree with the original plan, and saying that clearly is also a useful answer.
Will you give me a prescription?
No. A written second opinion does not come with medicines. Telemedicine rules in India do not permit prescribing to a patient we have not examined, and we think that rule is right.
Can I get a video call with the doctor?
A video consultation can be arranged on request, but it is a separate thing from this free written opinion — it is a proper teleconsultation, with its own consent and its own rules. Ask us on WhatsApp if you want one after reading your opinion.
How do I get back to my case later?
When you submit, you get a private link. Bookmark it or send it to yourself — that link is the only way back in, and it is private to you. There is no password to remember and no account to create. If you lose it, message us with your case number and we will resend it.
Can you review a case for someone who lives outside India?
Our doctors are registered to practise in India, so this service is for patients in India. If you are abroad and being treated abroad, a doctor registered where you are is the right person to ask.
I want an opinion to use in a complaint against my doctor. Will you write one?
No. We do not write medico-legal opinions, and we say so upfront rather than after you have sent your records. If you are considering a complaint, a lawyer and a formally appointed medical expert are the right route.
How long do you keep my reports, and can you delete them?
Medical records rules require us to keep them for at least 7 years, after which they are deleted. You can ask us to delete them sooner by writing to our Grievance Officer, and we will do it unless a law requires us to hold on to something specific.
Why do you limit how many cases you take?
Because a 48-hour promise that we quietly break is worse than saying "we are full today". When the open case list reaches our panel's honest capacity, the form closes until a slot frees up — usually the next day.
Something not answered here? Message us on WhatsApp or email opinion@secondopinionhospital.com. You don’t have to send any medical details to ask a question.