The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recognizes that the advisability of surgery or other specific therapy can be a matter of opinion. It reaffirms the traditional right of the patient’s freedom of choice. It opposes the concept of mandatory second surgical opinions or the imposition of financial penalties by a third party payer for not obtaining such second opinions. If a second opinion is required or desired by the patient, it should be covered by the third party payer and rendered by a board certified / board eligible otolaryngologist in active practice or a board certified / board eligible surgeon in a related, appropriate discipline and in active practice.
Adopted 7/10/1982
Reviewed 9/16/1995
Revised 9/16/1995
Reaffirmed 3/1/1998
Revised 5/6/2013
Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)
Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.
