Thanks for the great informative article. Awesome read.
In answer to the OP question...... why wouldn't one always get a second and third opinion even? If it involves surgery, for anything at all, I would get 2 opinions, just as a matter of sane and smart personal policy.
The only guy I know of that the rest actually worked is Ervin Santana, but I think it is still partially torn all these years. Mostly, waiting just wastes time. The worst possible scenario for Maeda would be to wait several months, then try it, and have it blow or reinjure, and then one of the surgeries discussed. That would even take more time, and in his case, cost him a boat load of money with that goofy incentive laden contract.