Feelings on the "allopathic" designation for MDs?

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flatlandhiker

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I understand why SDN chooses to divide the MD/DO discussions. However, I wonder about use of the term "allopathic" for MDs.

Let me make clear that I am not knocking osteopathy; I've met many great DO physicians. Nevertheless, "osteopathy" is a self-chosen designation. Is this the case for "allopathic" and MDs?

- the term was coined by Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy, to point out how regular doctors used methods that he felt had nothing to do with the disharmony produced by disease, merely addressing symptoms, which, in Hahnemann's view, meant that these methods were harmful to the patients (1)
(for a recent article on homeopathy, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/a...281/Homeopathy-is-witchcraft-say-doctors.html)

- AAMC is the American Association of Medical Colleges

- MD stands for medical doctor

- According to Wikipedia (citations replicated below), "In the United States the term "allopathic" has been used by persons not related to homeopathy, but it has never been accepted by the medical establishment, and is not a label that such individuals apply to themselves." (2, 3)

Why can't we just have the "M.D." and "D.O." sides of SDN?

(1) James C. Whorton (2004). Oxford University Press US. ed. Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America (illustrated ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 18,52.
(2) Gundling, Katherine E. (1998). "When did I become an "allopath"? (Commentary)". Archives of Internal Medicine 158 (20): 2185–6.
(3) Berkenwald, Alan D. (February 1, 1998). "In the Name of Medicine". Annals of Internal Medicine 128 (3): 246–50.
 
Really, the history is irrelevant. It's now known as allopathy, and people are OK with it.
 
If it is so accepted that the history is irrelevant, why is the term not used by the AMA, AAMC, any of the specialty boards, or on the webpage of any MD medical school that I've come across?
 
I dont get why this really matters? Once you progress past the pages of SDN its not like you will identify as an "allopathic" physician.....just as I wont identify as an "osteopathic physician." You are a physician...period.
 
willen101383 said:
I dont get why this really matters? Once you progress past the pages of SDN its not like you will identify as an "allopathic" physician.....just as I wont identify as an "osteopathic physician." You are a physician...period.
Click to expand...

I was just wondering why SDN chose it do things this way - I agree with your point.
 
I've always thought it was silly that SDN uses the allopathic label. From my experience, MDs HATE being called allopaths for the same reasons you mentioned - it carries a negative connotation.

And in 1998 a commentator (an MD) in Archives of Internal Medicine wrote the following: "Allopathy artificially delimits the practice of medicine […]. It embodies an unnatural, inflexible philosophy of care and implies that our system of care is merely one of many from which a discerning health care consumer may choose. […] The practice of medicine deserves so much more than the parsimonious title allopathy."

I think that if there must be two separate forums under the pre-med sub-class for those seeking both an MD degree and a DO degree, they would be more appropriately named "Pre-MD" and "Pre-DO".

But I'm not holding my breath. Words like allopathy sound more intellectual with their Greek origins and all and that probably is intriguing to pre-meds who don't know its actually a derogatory label. Plus they want to have a cool sounding name instead of just "doctor" like the DO's do.

Like another poster said, it really isn't a big deal. Just realize that in a real world setting, no doctor calls himself an allopathic or osteopathic physician. They are simply physicians.
 
They should call it medicaldoctory. Or maybe simply gotmoreeducationthandasdnps.
 
empty p orbital said:
I've always thought it was silly that SDN uses the allopathic label. From my experience, MDs HATE being called allopaths for the same reasons you mentioned - it carries a negative connotation.

And in 1998 a commentator (an MD) in Archives of Internal Medicine wrote the following: "Allopathy artificially delimits the practice of medicine […]. It embodies an unnatural, inflexible philosophy of care and implies that our system of care is merely one of many from which a discerning health care consumer may choose. […] The practice of medicine deserves so much more than the parsimonious title allopathy."

I think that if there must be two separate forums under the pre-med sub-class for those seeking both an MD degree and a DO degree, they would be more appropriately named "Pre-MD" and "Pre-DO".

But I'm not holding my breath. Words like allopathy sound more intellectual with their Greek origins and all and that probably is intriguing to pre-meds who don't know its actually a derogatory label. Plus they want to have a cool sounding name instead of just "doctor" like the DO's do.

Like another poster said, it really isn't a big deal. Just realize that in a real world setting, no doctor calls himself an allopathic or osteopathic physician. They are simply physicians.
Click to expand...

Except the wacko DOs who practice cranial and are all into OMM. I think OP is thinking of allopath the same way as us DOs think of osteopath as kind of iffy. It harkens back to the days when physicians were doing all sorts of wacky things in the treatment of disease....and DOs split off because they thought OMM was better and safer. Now that DOs have converged again with "allopathy" its just an outdated term.
 
dilution.png


http://xkcd.com/765/
 
"Allopath" is a pejorative. When I hear people refer to others or themselves as an "allopath" I think that it makes them sound ignorant. Not a huge deal but I have to roll my eyes at the naivete.
 
It made me laugh to see you cite sources for this.
 
I think it would be more appropriate to award both osteopathic physicians and allopathic physicians the M.D. degree, and just have in parentheses either D.A. (doctor of allopathy) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy).
 
tweek125 said:
I think it would be more appropriate to award both osteopathic physicians and allopathic physicians the M.D. degree, and just have in parentheses either D.A. (doctor of allopathy) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy).
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but I can't envision it ever happening.
 
Im not positive but im pretty sure SDN was founded by DO's/DO students and run by DO's/DO students in the begenning. Perhaps thats why the distinction is made on SDN. I could be wrong if somebody with more time on hand wants to look it up that would be great.
 
This topic is asinine. It has no effect outside of SDN.
 
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