How would we know? I highly doubt they would call up a DOs office and say "I refuse to see you." All I'm saying is that having one degree to designate a medical doctor from all the ones who want to be called doctor is a good thing. It doesn't have to be MD and it doesn't have to be DO. I'm just making the point that there should be one title for a medical doctor.
If all the other clinical providers who have doctorates are calling themselves doctor as you say is happening, then what is even a unified degree going to do? It is just another set of letters for patients to become confused about if the degree changed. If the letters are anything other than MD, you will still be explaining the letters of your new degree to patients, and everybody would still be calling themselves "doctor". In other words, a new degree accomplished nothing.
How do you know there was no confusion as opposed to patients just assuming you're an MD.
Perhaps some of them do assume that we are MDs. That means they are assuming we are physicians, and they would be correct in that assumption. Some are aware of the DO initals, and they know that we are not the osteopaths of their country. Patients just want to see a physician (or PA/NP if that is there preference) and most are clueless to the degree. They just want help getting better or staying healthy.
Your argument is flawed. You're essentially saying that the only reason to change the degree would be if patients complain or perpetually ask questions. What I'm saying is that it would be a smart move for medical doctors to band together since other groups are advancing their agendas. We're fighting to stay "separate but equal" while nurse practioners are doing the exact same thing. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
My argument is not flawed, and I was never advocating that there is any reason for a degree change. I was simply responding to the fact that you stated it was hard to explain the DO degree to foreign patients where the DO degree means something different. To your statement, I asked how many patients, both foreign and American, are you actually explaining the DO degree too? If you were honest with yourself, the number of patients is probably very small.
Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean anyone is sensationalizing it. Read up on it if you haven't seen it with your own eyes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/health/policy/02docs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
As for badges, yes, at some hospitals, I've seen the "NP" designation. However, not all hospitals do this. Some hospitals have Jane Doe, MD versus Jane, DO versus Jane Doe, DNP and all three want to be called "doctor."
Are you seriously going to use this article as evidence for your argument? First, it is a newspaper article (and we all know that is the best level of evidence in the world
) Next, the article gives ONE example of nurse presenting herself as doctor, and then assumes every DNP is doing the same thing. If that is not sensationalism, then I don't know what is. I'll stick with my real-world observations to base my opinions upon. I'm sure these stories happen, but not as much as you would like to believe.
Now, this is not to mean that I am for NP expansion of independent practice rights and DNPs calling themselves doctors in a clinical setting. I am strictly opposed to that idea. But, you are not going to keep them from calling themselves "doctor" with a degree change on our part. You need legislation to prohibit these kinds of acts.
With that, I'm done with this thread. You know my stance and it is not going to change. I will not advocate for a degree change, and there is no point in arguing about it, especially online of all places. Like I said in my original post, if people do not like the degree, then do not pursue it.
