What is the Second Opinion Service?

The purpose of the Second Opinion Service is to provide patients and their families with an additional opinion regarding diagnosis and/or treatment from a specialist other than their current physician. Second opinions facilitate satisfactory, open, and transparent medical care that help patients navigate future treatment.
With the remarkable advances in medical technology in recent years, a single disease may now be treated using a variety of strategies. As a university hospital focusing on advanced medicine, our specialists are able to provide advice drawing from the latest in diagnosis and treatment.

Situations in which the Second Opinion Service cannot be used

The second opinion service is not applicable for patients seeking continuing medical care at our hospital for treatment started at another hospital.

Please note that we cannot accept applications for the following purposes:

• Matters involved in litigation

  • Investigations of possible medical error
  • Confirmation of appropriateness of past medical care
• Diagnosis with respect to treatment already completed
• Matters related to outpatient mental health

Services not provided in the Second Opinion Service

In the Second Opinion Service, advice is made based on information provided by the patient and/or his/her current primary treating physician. Please note that we do not conduct any tests or treatment at our hospital, nor do we prescribe medication.

Second Opinion Service times and fees

Within 30 minutes:

33,000yen (tax included)

30 to 60 minutes:

66,000yen (tax included)

How to apply

The Second Opinion Service is by appointment only. International patients seeking an appointment for the Second Opinion Service are required to apply through a medical coordinator. Please note that we cannot accept inquiries from individuals.
If you do not yet have a medical coordinator, please see the List of Registered Guarantors approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• List of Registered Guarantors (Medical Coordinators, etc.)
• List of Registered Guarantors (Travel Agencies)

Please note that in some cases it may take time to arrange a time and date for an appointment. We may also be unable to offer the second opinion service if the information provided by the patient is insufficient or incomplete.

Necessary documents and interpreter arrangements

Medical certificates, test records, diagnostic imaging data and other information from the hospital in the country of the person seeking advice are needed. In order to provide the best possible advice, we need detailed data. Data used in the Second Opinion Service will be returned to the person seeking advice at the end of the consultation.
We also ask international patients to provide copies of their passport and Japanese visa. Please have them ready together with the following documents.

• International Patients Second Opinion Service First-visit Consultation Application Form

  Note: Please complete in Japanese.

• Medical certificate or summary of diagnosis from hospital/clinic in your country (copy of original and Japanese or English translation)

• Pertinent test results (copy of original and Japanese or English translation)

• Copy of patient’s passport (page with photograph)

• Copy of patient’s Japanese visa

• If you have digital images, please send a CD-ROM (DICOM format) by postal mail. If you have films or color photographs/copies please bring these with you on the day of your appointment.

  Note: Please upload required documentation of 2-5 as attachments to the online First-visit Consultation Application Form.

  Please send the CD-ROM in 6) by post to the following address
  Department of International Healthcare
  (located in the Medical Service Support Center:
  Building No. 1, 1st Floor, Reception 1B)

  Juntendo University Hospital
3-1-3 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8431, Japan

Please come to your appointment together with a medical interpreter to ensure reliable and smooth communication. Please note that patients who cannot speak Japanese and are not accompanied by a medical interpreter may be unable to receive the Second Opinion Service on that day.

Family representative

If the person seeking advice is not the patient but a member of the patient’s family (limited to spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling). Patient’s consent to discuss the case is required. A medical coordinator or non-family member cannot receive advice on the patient’s behalf.

The following documents are needed in addition to documents 2）,3）,４）, and 6）above.

• Consent for Release of Patient Information to Representative PDF

• Copy of the passport of the family representative (page with photograph)

• Copy of the Japanese visa of the family representative

• Proof of the relationship between the patient and the person seeking advice

Note: Please upload required documentation of 1-４ as attachments to the online First-visit Consultation Application Form.

Procedures and payment on the day of your Second Opinion appointment

On the day of your appointment, please go to the Medical Concierge Service (Second Opinion Service) on the 2nd floor of Building No.1 directly.
Please make sure to bring your passport for personal identification. You will also need to fill out a questionnaire, so please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. For more detailed information, inquire with your medical coordinator.

Payment can be made at the cashier counter or the automatic payment machine on the 1st floor of Building No.1. Cash payment or the following credit cards are acceptable:
VISA, Mastercard, JCB, UC, American Express, Diners Club, DISCOVER, 銀聯(Union Pay)

Department of International Healthcare

Juntendo University Hospital