Ok just my opinion.
There's only one exception to multiple docs in same speciality. Even that only applies in PM if a patient accepts pain meds from both. Other then that you have every right to get the best possible treatment for the best quality of life.
Just went to a new RA dr. Cannot tell you how I sweated the wait out knowing the field is small enough & practice out of same hospital they would more then likely know one another.
Well the new dr totally understood my need for change & noted her reputation for unhappy patients. As he's had several come through his office. I could kick myself for not doing it sooner. I was as negligent as my previous doctor in my own care.

There is nothing wrong with wanting that second opinion. The fact others have urged you to get this problem dealt with speaks for itself. Especially Considering your talking medically trained.
Yes doctors can band together but there are those exceptions.
A good doctor will start from point A on his or her own forming a completely independent opinion. It can be hard to get a good doctor that thinks outside the box & goes beyond the " text book cases".

If it bothers you give this doctor another shot. Although you deserve better so that second appointment is needed if he misses the boat again. You have to be your own advocate. Have to believe doctors see a lot of patients seeking answers or even better treatment.
You can respect a doctor & still want answers & the best care. It's your right.
We loose perspective when it comes to doctors. We hire them. They are paid to provide the best care possible. If you were not happy with a contractor you'd replace him without question.
Either way you want to look at it comes down to fee for service. We all want the best service when the cost in every way is so high.
Do what's best for you. Even if it involves going to a third dr if need be.
Your worth it.
My opinions.
Sammy

Yes they have the non poaching code, particularly in close demographic proximity. Any dr who does not isn't a professional you'd want to go to.
I can't tell by your post if these Drs are in the same medical community-if not I would go with the new one to take a fresh look.
If yes this isvwhere I've tread very very carefully so I dont loose two
Drs over this issue.
Sorry you're yet another member having to go through this. I know I need to change my rheumy and it is also about the last thing I want to do.

OK, this is getting interesting. From your other post, Sammy, it sounds like your new rheumy was clear about doing things differently from your first. They have admitting privileges at the same hospital, but are in unrelated practices?

My first one is here in town. It's a city of about 70K, 100K maybe in the county. One hospital, which owns both the practices in this specialty, each with 5 or 6 MDs. No one in town is independent. The new one is affiliated with the hospital in a much smaller town about 75 miles away, but comes here once a week to see patients.

I am not in continuing care with the first- I was discharged in January after treatment that began last summer.

What does constitute poaching? If a patient seeks a second opinion, is the expectation that they will return to the first? What happens when you go back to the first and say, "Dr. Smartypants says the problem is B, not A"? In a situation like mine, how does one diplomatically tell #1 that I still don't believe things are fine?

Altoclef-,sounds like the 2nd opinion would be easily explained as you have been discharged by the first Dr & your problem is still not resolved-much more cut & dry.
As far as the "poaching" - probably better explained Drs don't want a reputation of taking other Drs patients even if it is the patient who sought them out. They would not take it on if they knew about the previous dr except for an emergency or
Very dire situation.
Are you concerned about damaging the relationship with the first?

Meant to ask- if dr #2 gets to the bottom of your problem or is willing to investigate further, is there a reason you would go back to the first?
In my case although I wasn't planning on going back to dr #1 I didn't want it to look like there was going to be a conflict.

Thanks for the input, Beechfeet, especially since you are in the medical profession. I often feel like there is a rulebook that I have never been able to see.

I really don't want to damage the relationship with #1, no. He has a reputation as an excellent surgeon, he is local, he's done two surgeries on me, treated one of my kids. I feel that, besides all the professional credentials, he is a kind, decent human being. I'm flabbergasted that he keeps telling me everything is fine.

Long story short, he did a major joint repair on me last summer. I took a catastrophic fall on it while it was still immobilized. We are in total agreement that the repairs held, and things feel better in many ways than they have in 10 years. I'm positive, though, that in falling I did major damage to an adjoining area. X-rays, 2 MRIs, and a CT scan. ALL he has looked at is the computer screen, not flesh & bone, and I think (actually, I'm pretty positive) he has only looked to see if the repairs held.

I am seeing #2 next week. I don't know what to do if this needs surgical repair, and I'm fearing it will. As I said, I trust #1, but since the hospital acquired that practice, the office is horrid, the hospital is aggravating and scary- constant labor problems over safe staffing issues-, and the doc is always terribly rushed- possibly why I have this problem to start with. #2 practices out of a small-town hospital. Heard varying things about it, but this practice is supposedly quite good. (Ski town orthopedists.)

At what point will an ethical doctor take on someone else's patient? I finally decided with this, that if mental illness is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, I'd be crazy to go back to #1, loyalty and fondness notwithstanding.

Tough situation. Especially considering how much respect you have for this doc. Yet your pain & problem remain. Dang talk about dilemma. Honestly not sure how I'd handle it if doctor B found the cause that Dr. A overlooked, yet all my confidence was in Dr. A for surgery. If your talking surgery it's a whole different ball game.
You'd want the best, the one you have faith in.

Perhaps stating much like you have here how much respect you have for him (in your words of course) yet you have to listen to your body. Which is telling you something is wrong. He has not left you a choice.
Any patient would do the same.
I really respected the surgeon the did my fusion. He was everything I wanted in a surgeon. Yet when problems occurred after restrictions were lifted he became upset & said it was all in my head. 3 day hospital stay with ER Docs notes stating the condition I was in yet it was in my head. After a test indicating problems he never apoalgized for his comment which was issued in a rude manner.
He was more concerned with his success rate. It's that simple. Very respected by patients & doctors. Yet his treatment of my post op problems were unacceptable.
Surgeons/ doctors no matter how good they are make mistakes. Overlook problems or simply don't investigate as they should.
Had one tell me his job was to do the surgery getting the patient through & on his or her way. Anything more was not his job.

I understand poaching. As I've had a doctor explain why he could not care for my Aunt. As her doctor was out of the same practice. Since he was/is my uncles doctor he said he would consider it if we felt really strong after his explanation but he'd rather not.
Now that was a smaller practice with 4 doctors.

My new doctor (RA) is not in the same practice as the first one.
Although they are out of the same hospital. New dr did practice out of 2 hospitals & just made the decision to use the one. Same hospital one as first dr. Both now have private practices.
I get the reasoning behind poaching yet in certain situations or very large practices with limited options in the area its extreme. As really not in the best interest of the patient. As doctors are human & can make mistakes. I could see if a doctor was accepting multipule patients of a colleague but where patients are limited in choice one would hope there would be understanding with patients care put first.
Although I'd be a wee bit concerned a doctor to close to the other may not fully investigate the problem. Taking notes from the other. I've seen this happen with doctors who are not in the same practice or area.
Girl you've got some thinking to do.
Any way you look at it fact remains you have to come first finding & dealing with this problem. You cannot continue to suffer. That is what doctor A needs to realize. No one wants to suffer.
It's the patients responsibility to look for care & treatment. No matter what.
Or If you have a husband blame on him. That's much easier. Kidding of course (or not?).
Truly hope you get some answers.
Sammy

Sammy, I had a surgeon like the one you're describing. Dr. Armani we'll call him, as the man does like a well-cut suit, did a supposedly simple hand surgery on me. Things went south- thank you, inflammatory and autoimmune processes- and he refused to even admit there was a problem., then said there was but that it was my fault. I still can't figure out how I made all those nodules grow in my palm. Now for the irony: Dr. #1 bailed me out of the mess with Dr. Armani.

True, though, that many of them are spectacularly bad at follow-up. The bill for surgery usually covers follow-up care for 90 days after, so there's no more money to be made. I've never had the impression that any of them have ever read a progress report from a physical therapist. If I could ever get Dr. Armani to spend more than 90 seconds in the room it was a miracle. His PA was a little better, but threw his hands in the air and told me I had to have Dr. Armani look at this because it was really weird. Bad old memories.

The husband- I'm trying to keep him at arm's length on this one. He's more frustrated with all of this than I am, and for him, frustration quickly turns to anger. I understand, but don't need to add that to the complications!

I have wondered if keeping up the success rate comes into play, even though I'm the one that %$#&ed it up this time.

Sammy01 has a great idea-Put the weight on family members or whoever that won't let you hear the end of it until a 2nd opinion is sought out -for the benefit of the greater good I say! Dr#2 will want all of your imaging that will have Dr#2's name all over it so I agree you will need to tap dance a little.
And yes we've owned our bodies and know when something's up. I really sympathize with you. More than one of my medical issues took a lot of time and multiple Dr's to find - even a vitamin deficiency that took almost 2 years to diagnose- with classic textbook symptoms. I just didn't fit the ideal and see a Dr. that had the experience of having diagnosed it yet.
Let us know what happens.

A good Dr. will not be worried about blaming you for falling-they will search to find the source of the problem & help you. Stuff happens and trust me they see it all.