Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Brain Aneurysm Second Opinion

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We're happy to give a second opinion to patients who are considering brain aneurysm treatment at another hospital. We also support our own patients seeking a second opinion if that gives you peace of mind.  

You may be interested in a second opinion if:  

  • You want to review your images and get more information about your condition and treatment benefits and risks 
  • You have a complicated, large, or unusual brain aneurysm 
  • Your physician suggests a treatment and you want to learn about other options 
  • Your aneurysm needs a complicated treatment  

A second opinion can confirm your physician's thinking and give you more information to make sure you are getting the best treatment plan. A second opinion doesn't commit you to treatment. 

Getting a Second Opinion  

If you’d like a second opinion, please call us at 617-638-8456 for an appointment or email us at aneurysm@bmc.org. If you email, please include your email address so we can reach back out to you.  

We’ll do our best to see you as soon as possible or have one of our neurointerventionalists, neuroradiologists, or neurosurgeons call you.  Please spring bring your images and reports to your appointment.  

What to Ask 

When getting a second opinion, consider asking these questions: 

  • What is your experience with brain aneurysms/ AVMS?  
  • How many aneurysm treatments have you done? 
  • Have you reviewed the images or reports related to my case? 

Diagnosis 

  • Are you sure about my diagnosis? 
  • Would another imaging test be helpful to confirm my diagnosis? 

Treatment 

  • Do you agree with my treatment recommendation? 
  • What are other options for treatment? 
  • How long will recovery take after treatment? 
  • Are there any medications I should or should not take? 
  • Are there any activities I won’t be able to do? 

Prognosis 

  • How would I have gotten this aneurysm? 
  • What is my likely outcome for my condition? 

Complications 

  • What are the potential risks of treatment?  
  • What is your complication rate?  
  • What is the national average complication rate? 

References 

  • Do you have anything I can read to learn more about my condition?