The words “second opinion” is synonymous with doctors. People will always tell you get a second opinion about major illnesses related to heart, brain, kidneys and whatnot.

However that does not come into play for “everyday” illnesses like cold, flu, malaria, etc. But from this report in the DNA, maybe its time it should

Your family physician’s, or the nearby general practitioner’s, inexperience could be as deadly as any life-threatening disease.

A recent study by a BMC panel of experts, which works to control malaria and looks into reasons causing malaria deaths in Mumbai, has come across some very disturbing figures. The Malaria Death Committee of BMC has found that of the 122 confirmed deaths caused by malaria in 2007, 68 happened because of wrong or late diagnosis by the treating general practitioners (GP).

“It means almost 60% of the malaria deaths last year could have been averted with timely treatment,” said Dr Kishor Hargouli, assistant health officer, surveillance, BMC.
This year, 19 people have succumbed to malaria. Last week, two malaria deaths were reported from a construction site in Parel. An investigation by BMC revealed that both patients had gone to the same general physician, who never even suspected that it could be malaria.

Its a difficult call to make. On the one hand most of us trust our family physician blindly. But on the other, if it means a matter of life and death, trust be damned.

What will you do the next time you need to visit a GP. Is a second opinion in order ?