is it within my rights, even without any medical insurance

Im in California.

And my question is it within my rights, even without any medical insurance to ask for a second opinion after 6 months of testing to see what Is wrong with my heart am I wrong about asking for a specialist? Im still waiting for approval of SSI. But have applied im not getting better and think something more than testing needs to happen. Below is my request I made for a referral. But my doctor hasn't responded in two working days.
Am I out of line with my request ?
Do I have a legal right to ask?
And if so how can I expedite the process?


THIS IS MY REQUEST IN WRITING


This is my understanding of my condition as it has been explained to me by Doctor (Insert Another name) from the Cath Lab on Friday August 20th 2004. He told me the Cath Machine wasn't working again. And that he had reviewed my other test results and had determined that I wont be having another Catheterization After all... I understand part of my heart is totally dead and cant be fixed with a bypass because there is nothing to bypass to. And that makes my heart pump very weak and to make things worse my Aorta is 40% smaller, most likely in the same spot that was “fixed” when I was a child. 30 years ago.

So that narrow spot makes it even harder for my damaged heart to do its job due to the extra blood pressure my “aorta narrow spot” has created. So Now what needs to happen? The Doctor also explained that stenting my aorta was not easy to do? And he would be discussing options with other doctors and yourself... Or how ever that works? And then he apologized for having me come in and prepping me for the Cardiac Catheterization and sent me home.

Now don't take this wrong Im not second guessing you or any of your colleges and I am not a Doctor but it seems like the more I learn about my heart condition the worse it gets and because it definitely is a life threatening problem I have. It is really starting to worry me, I don't want to die anytime soon. Im sure I am better off now with all the medications im taking lowering my blood pressure cholesterol and everything but I feel I need to get a little more proactive about my own survival and would like to ask you if I could get a referral for me to get another opinion from “Insert Any other hospital”

That doesn't mean I would be leaving your care its just that in between my appointments that average about a month apart I could fill in the lag time more productively and maybe get another possible treatment idea to help keep me alive. I have a lot to do still. And am just trying to be around to do it. I hope you can understand that?

Thanks for your time.
Sincerely BADRAP

DID I DO THIS WRONG? Im just trying anything at this point...

BADRAP
I think you presented your concerns well and that your request was (is) reasonable. Give your physician time to receive the letter, consider the request, and make some phone calls to locate another provider for a second opinion. I'd estimate a couple of weeks as a reasonable time to hear back from the physician. If you do not hear from the physician, make an appointment only for consultation about your options. It may be that you want to request an office consultation prior to the beginning of the actual physical exam/appointment that is your routine appointment. I find it very beneficial to have time to talk with my physician about my concerns before I am turned into a 'patient'.
EC

thank you for your time ellencee
I do know what hospital I would like to go to they are very good at cardiac care its just a matter of geting a referal from a doctor. anyway hopfully it will happen soon thanx again

ellencee said:

BADRAP
I think you presented your concerns well and that your request was (is) reasonable. Give your physician time to receive the letter, consider the request, and make some phone calls to locate another provider for a second opinion. I'd estimate a couple of weeks as a reasonable time to hear back from the physician. If you do not hear from the physician, make an appointment only for consultation about your options. It may be that you want to request an office consultation prior to the beginning of the actual physical exam/appointment that is your routine appointment. I find it very beneficial to have time to talk with my physician about my concerns before I am turned into a 'patient'.
EC

Click to expand...

The treating physician has no duty to choose a peer for a second opinion, and in fact a strong argument could be made that doing so would defeat the purpose of a second opinion. If the second doctor concurs with the original opinion, how would you know that's not just a friend protecting his buddy?

If your doc chooses to consult with a colleague that's a different story, but it would be difficult for him to find someone willing to take this on without some insurance in the picture. In fact, it would probably be harder for him than for you.

There are probably several options for you at this point. First would be to determine whether you qualify for any government-sponsored health plan. That would increase the pool of physicians you have to choose from. Are you sure you've exhausted those options?

If you are unable to obtain any coverage, i would suggest you make an appointment at your county hospital. Usually they'll require that you have an exam by an internist before they'll send you to a cardiologist.

Once you're in their system, I suspect you'll get whatever surgery or other treatment is possible considering your condition; unfortunately for you, you are medically "interesting", meaning there will some interest in providing treatment as part of their resident training program.

If for some reason you are opposed to the county hospital route, you can try appealing directly to the doctor you'd like to see. However, keep in mind that in order to perform surgery, not only would the surgeon be working for free, but the hospital would also have to agree in advance to write off the cost of treating you. It's happened, but is a pretty unlikely scenario.

The treating physician has no duty to choose a peer for a second opinion, and in fact a strong argument could be made that doing so would defeat the purpose of a second opinion. If the second doctor concurs with the original opinion, how would you know that's not just a friend protecting his buddy?

GOOD POINT THANK YOU

If your doc chooses to consult with a colleague that's a different story, but it would be difficult for him to find someone willing to take this on without some insurance in the picture. In fact, it would probably be harder for him than for you.

YES IT WOULD IM WAITING FOR SSI TO COME THROUGH

There are probably several options for you at this point. First would be to determine whether you qualify for any government-sponsored health plan. That would increase the pool of physicians you have to choose from. Are you sure you've exhausted those options?

YES I HAVE APPLIED FOR WELFARE BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY CURRENT DOCTOR INTERN THAT IM DISABLED FOR TWO YEARS THATS HOW IM QUALIFIEING FOR SSI

If you are unable to obtain any coverage, i would suggest you make an appointment at your county hospital. Usually they'll require that you have an exam by an internist before they'll send you to a cardiologist.

THATS HOW I GOT TO THIS POINT THAT IM AT NOW

Once you're in their system, I suspect you'll get whatever surgery or other treatment is possible considering your condition; unfortunately for you, you are medically "interesting", meaning there will some interest in providing treatment as part of their resident training program.

YES IVE BEEN TESTED FOR 6 MONTHS NOW

If for some reason you are opposed to the county hospital route, you can try appealing directly to the doctor you'd like to see. However, keep in mind that in order to perform surgery, not only would the surgeon be working for free, but the hospital would also have to agree in advance to write off the cost of treating you. It's happened, but is a pretty unlikely scenario.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHT

IN memory of BADRAP

California

I just found this site on BadRaPs computer.

I regret to inform the board that BADRAP suffered a heart attack in his home on January 16th 2005. He was informed in November that there was nothing that could be done without insurance. His "student" doctor went on to change his medication before christmas when he had an adverse reaction to it, we called her almost everyday for a month or more. She abandoned him and never returned his calls. The last call she got was from the police requesting she sign off on his death certificate....she refused. Yes badrap was late to everything and I always blamed him.....when he was late to his own funeral because the County Morgue had to do an autopsy. I blamed her.
The next post u will see is the whole reason he came to this forum and that so called friend he went down with burned him even after he died....and I now need advice on how to handle her next list of crimes...i just got to figure out which board to post it too......


if u want to see his art and who he was go here...www.impact-graphx.memory-of.com
And to the lawyers that helped him He REALLY RESPECTED and VALUED your opinions.
Thank you in his memory

his best friend....drea

Thank you for the update even though it is sad news. Even though OP had a conenital heart defect and surgery 30 + years ago, if is that defect which contributed to his evential demise, it is unlikely that not having a second opinion or insurance would have greatly changed the outcome or extended his life. It is good to know that he had frineds and family who miss him and cared enough to take the time to make a memorial for him and to inform these forums of his death.

doctor patient relationship

A patient hires and fires a doctor, and can do so anytime that they want.

This whole post shows the problems that arise when third party concerns are dictating treatment for another person.

So the simple question that all who read must ask is if you are profusely bleeding and a doctor says take an aspirin and call me in the morning, would you go home profusely bleeding or would you move heaven and earth to get somebody to treat you.

Sadly this seemed the case here, and if patients just do what they need to, results may be different. Unfortunately costs come into play and that is the problem.

Sorry for your loss.

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