This is more of a question about medical procedure rather than a question about a condition (if there's a better sub, please let me know).

1) I've been having a persistent condition that hasn't responded well to treatment. I've gotten second and third opinions. The decision on how to proceed has been split and very different. I asked my first opinion provider why his course of treatment might be so different from the second opinion provider, and whether it was worth them discussing. The first opinion provider said that it's a breach of standard protocols to contact with each other when patients are trying to get second and third opinions. Is this true? The third opinion basically said this was BS.

Age: 29 Sex: M Height: 5'10" Weight: 155 Location: USA

(Second unrelated question)

2) I asked that first doctor for his opinion about something via email. The question was "why am I not progressing". They said it is against best practices for doctors to offer advice to patients without the opportunity to physically examine them. This also seems off to me as well. Is this actually standard policy?