Alabama Second Or Opposing Surgical Opinion is a service provided by the state of Alabama to help protect patients who are considering surgical procedures. The service requires that a second opinion be obtained from a board-certified physician or surgeon who is licensed to practice medicine in the state of Alabama. This second opinion must be obtained before the patient can proceed with the proposed surgery. There are two types of Alabama Second Or Opposing Surgical Opinion: formal and informal. A formal opinion is a written statement from the second opinion physician that contains a detailed analysis of the proposed procedure and its potential risks and benefits. The formal opinion is considered binding on the patient and must be provided to the primary surgeon before the surgery is performed. An informal opinion is a verbal statement or discussion between the second opinion physician and the patient and does not require a written document. The informal opinion is not considered binding on the patient and does not require a formal document.