Can AI help me prepare for a second opinion?

Yes. It organizes your history, the first doctor's findings and your questions into a one-page summary, and lists the records to bring.

Verdict: Bot · AI does it well✓ Tested 2 times in Llama 3.3 70B · Nov 3, 2026Written for ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

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Bot

01Why bot

  • Summarizing and organizing is a strength of AI.
  • A clear summary gets more out of a short visit.
  • It doesn't interpret your diagnosis; the new doctor does.
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02The prompt

Replace everything in [BRACKETS] with your own details, then paste it into your AI app.

prompt.txt
You are a patient advocate. This is not medical advice.

The first diagnosis and recommended treatment: [DETAILS]
My history and symptoms: [SUMMARY]
What I'm unsure about: [QUESTIONS]

Your task: prepare me for the second opinion.

Rules:
- MUST organize my notes into a one-page summary.
- MUST list records to bring (reports, imaging, labs).
- NEVER suggest which opinion is right.

Give me: the summary, the records checklist, and 6 questions to ask.

03Steps

  1. Request your records early.
  2. Run the prompt.
  3. Bring the summary and records to the visit.

04What can go wrong

  • Don't stop treatment without talking to a doctor.
  • Check insurance coverage for second opinions.

05What to use

Any major AI chat app.

06Our test runs

2 runs, each with a different made-up sample. 2 of 2 passed every check.

Run 1 · Llama 3.3 70B · graded by GPT-OSS 120BOct 8, 2026Passed

The made-up sample:

  • [DETAILS]Diagnosis: Symptomatic cholelithiasis (gallstones) causing biliary colic. Recommended treatment: adopt a low‑fat diet, use acetaminophen or NSAIDs for pain, and schedule elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the next 6–8 weeks. If pain becomes severe or fever develops, seek urgent care.
  • [SUMMARY]42‑year‑old female, 3‑month history of right‑upper‑quadrant pain 1–2 h after fatty meals, occasional nausea, no vomiting or fever. Physical exam shows mild tenderness in Murphy’s point. Labs: normal CBC, liver enzymes, bilirubin. Abdominal US: multiple gallstones, gallbladder wall 3 mm, no stones in common duct. Prior colonoscopy normal. No prior abdominal surgeries.
  • [QUESTIONS]1. What are the specific risks of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for me? 2. Should I consider waiting longer for surgery or is earlier better? 3. Are there non‑surgical options that could reliably prevent future attacks? 4. How should I modify my diet before and after surgery? 5. What postoperative symptoms would require immediate medical attention? 6. Will the surgery affect my ability to become pregnant in the future?
  • Provide a one-page summary
  • List records to bring
  • Never suggest which opinion is right
  • Include six questions to ask
  • Didn't make up details we never gave it

What came back (excerpt):

1. What are the specific risks and complications associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for my condition, and how can they be mitigated? 2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of scheduling the surgery earlier versus waiting longer, and what factors should I consider when making this decision?
Read the full answer
**One-Page Summary:**

* Diagnosis: Symptomatic cholelithiasis (gallstones) causing biliary colic
* Recommended treatment: Low-fat diet, pain management with acetaminophen or NSAIDs, and elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 6-8 weeks
* Medical history: 42-year-old female, 3-month history of right-upper-quadrant pain after fatty meals, occasional nausea, no vomiting or fever
* Physical exam: Mild tenderness in Murphy's point
* Labs: Normal CBC, liver enzymes, bilirubin
* Abdominal US: Multiple gallstones, gallbladder wall 3 mm, no stones in common duct
* Prior colonoscopy: Normal
* No prior abdominal surgeries
* Concerns:
	+ Risks of laparoscopic cholecystectomy
	+ Timing of surgery
	+ Non-surgical options
	+ Dietary modifications
	+ Postoperative symptoms requiring medical attention
	+ Impact on future pregnancy

**Records Checklist:**

* Abdominal US report
* Lab results (CBC, liver enzymes, bilirubin)
* Colonoscopy report
* Medical history documents
* Current medication list
* Imaging studies (if any)

**6 Questions to Ask:**

1. What are the specific risks and complications associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for my condition, and how can they be mitigated?
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of scheduling the surgery earlier versus waiting longer, and what factors should I consider when making this decision?
3. Are there any non-surgical options or alternative treatments that could help manage my symptoms and prevent future attacks, and what are their potential benefits and limitations?
4. What dietary modifications should I make before and after surgery to ensure a smooth recovery and minimize the risk of complications, and are there any specific foods or nutrients that I should avoid or prioritize?
5. What postoperative symptoms or signs should I be aware of that would require immediate medical attention, and what is the typical recovery process like after laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
6. Will the surgery have any impact on my ability to become pregnant in the future, and are there any specific considerations or precautions that I should take if I plan to become pregnant after the surgery?

Answer follows all required sections and does not give a recommendation.

Run 2 · Llama 3.3 70B · graded by GPT-OSS 120BNov 3, 2026Passed

The made-up sample (a messier one):

  • [DETAILS]Diagnosis: early‑stage (stage II) ulcerative colitis, recommended treatment: oral mesalamine 2.4 g daily, plus a 6‑week taper of prednisone 40 mg → 20 mg → 10 mg. Doctor also suggested a colonoscopy in 3 months and a possible switch to a biologic if no improvement.
  • [SUMMARY]History: 34‑year‑old, intermittent abdominal cramping, urgency, occasional bright red blood in stool for 8 months; symptoms escalated after starting a high‑stress job 3 months ago. Tried OTC loperamide, some relief. Labs: mild iron‑deficiency anemia (Hgb 11.2 g/dL), ESR 28 mm/hr. Recent colonoscopy (June 2024) showed mild mucosal erythema, no ulcerations. Imaging: abdominal ultrasound normal. Records to bring: - Latest colonoscopy report (including photos) - Pathology slides summary - Complete blood count and iron studies - ESR/CRP trend chart - Current medication list & dosing schedule - Recent abdominal ultrasound images - Referral note from primary care
  • [QUESTIONS]1. What are the pros and cons of staying on mesalamine versus switching to a biologic now? 2. How reliable is the mild mucosal erythema finding for predicting disease progression? 3. Are there alternative steroid‑sparing strategies I should consider? 4. What lifestyle or dietary changes could realistically improve my symptoms? 5. How often should I have surveillance colonoscopies at this stage? 6. If I pursue a biologic, what monitoring is required for side‑effects?
  • Organize notes into a one-page summary
  • List records to bring (reports, imaging, labs)
  • Provide exactly six questions to ask
  • Never suggest which opinion is right
  • Didn't make up details we never gave it

What came back (excerpt):

**One-Page Summary:** * Diagnosis: Early-stage (stage II) ulcerative colitis * Current Treatment: Oral mesalamine 2.
Read the full answer
**One-Page Summary:**

* Diagnosis: Early-stage (stage II) ulcerative colitis
* Current Treatment: Oral mesalamine 2.4g daily, 6-week taper of prednisone 40mg → 20mg → 10mg
* History: 34-year-old, intermittent abdominal cramping, urgency, occasional bright red blood in stool for 8 months, symptoms escalated after starting high-stress job 3 months ago
* Labs: Mild iron-deficiency anemia (Hgb 11.2 g/dL), ESR 28 mm/hr
* Recent Colonoscopy (June 2024): Mild mucosal erythema, no ulcerations
* Imaging: Abdominal ultrasound normal
* Concerns:
	+ Uncertainty about staying on mesalamine vs. switching to a biologic
	+ Reliability of mild mucosal erythema finding for predicting disease progression
	+ Alternative steroid-sparing strategies
	+ Lifestyle and dietary changes for symptom improvement
	+ Surveillance colonoscopy frequency
	+ Monitoring for biologic side-effects

**Records to Bring:**

* Latest colonoscopy report (including photos)
* Pathology slides summary
* Complete blood count and iron studies
* ESR/CRP trend chart
* Current medication list & dosing schedule
* Recent abdominal ultrasound images
* Referral note from primary care

**Questions to Ask:**

1. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of continuing mesalamine versus switching to a biologic at this stage, and how will we determine the best course of treatment for my specific case?
2. How do you interpret the mild mucosal erythema finding from my recent colonoscopy, and what does it indicate about my disease progression and potential treatment options?
3. Are there alternative steroid-sparing strategies that I should consider, and what are the potential benefits and risks of these approaches?
4. What lifestyle and dietary changes have been shown to improve symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis, and which ones might be most beneficial for me?
5. What is the recommended frequency for surveillance colonoscopies at my current stage of disease, and how will we monitor for any changes or progression?
6. If I were to start a biologic, what kind of monitoring would be required to watch for potential side-effects, and how would we adjust my treatment plan if any issues arise?

Ensure no treatment recommendation is given.

How each run works: we fill the prompt with a made-up sample, run it once in Llama 3.3 70B, and GPT-OSS 120B grades the answer against the prompt's own rules. Word limits are counted by code, and every quote flagged as made up is checked against the full answer. Your results can differ. How we test.

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