"Do you have a parent or legal guardian who is a physician or is in medical school?"

[winterfish21]

I am filling out the application, and one question asks "Do you have a parent or legal guardian who is a physician or is in medical school?"

My mother went to medical school before immigrating to the US and obtained an MBBS, but never practiced (in that country or in the US). In the US, she was not able to obtain the proper documentation regarding her medical degree to become certified and work as a physician (it is very hard to obtain official documents from institutions in her home country).

I am wondering, do I need to answer yes to the question that I have a parent who is a physician? When they say "physician", do they mean a practicing doctor? Will it be assumed that I was well off, or had access to the medical field and connections if I select yes to this question?

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[Goro]

I lean tot he view that she has an MD-like degree, but as she is not in practice, she's not a physician.

A physician, medical practitioner, medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments. Wikipedia

 

[LizzyM]

I'd say that if your parent has never been licensed to practice medicine, they have not been a physician.

If your family member was a retired physician who had been licensed at one time, I'd say yes, but not if the person has never been licensed.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes, the words that are missing from the question prompt are ... "IS a physician or in medical school IN THE UNITED STATES/CANADA?" Consequently, your answer is likely "no" to this specific question. I concur the key point is getting a license to practice in the US/Canada as a physician. (If AMCAS instructions say otherwise, please let me know.)