Agreeing to surgery or committing to life-changing medication can be daunting, but one UAE hospital group is helping patients take the doubt out of their decisions by offering a free second opinion service.
The “Second Opinon” service was launched this week by Zulekha Hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah and is available to all patients, including those not undergoing treatment at Zulekha. The service covers a range of medical fields, including cardiology, oncology and general service.
“The decision, as well as the financial burden, of undergoing a life-changing treatment or surgery is not a small one to make and our service has been designed to provide patients with added confidence and to help ensure they are absolutely certain about their course of treatment,” said Taher Shams, managing director of Zulekha Hospitals.
“Our aim is to encourage a culture of patients taking a second opinion. Whenever medical advice has been given, it is always a safe bet to have another doctor weigh in on the matter, especially in the case of surgery.”
Dr Fadi Alnehlaoui, surgical oncologist and general surgeon, is among the doctors offering free consultations at Zulekha Hospital and hopes initiatives like these will help reaffirm patients’ confidence in their doctor’s diagnosis.
“Today, we all have access to an overload of information on the internet, from friends and from the medical community. Sometimes it can be too much to take in and process, especially when you’re also coming to terms with a new diagnosis,” he said.
“We encourage patients to seek a second opinion so that they have peace of mind when it comes to the best course of action.”
To take advantage of the free Second Opinion service, call 600 524 442 or visit zulekhahospitals.com/secondopinion.