M.D. = Medical Doctor?

[StudentDO09]

I thought MD was Doctor of Medicine but not according to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California 😕 http://www.ombc.ca.gov/

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[misparas]

"There are two types of physicians in the United States: doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) and medical doctors (M.D.s). For more information on osteopathic medicine, visit the AOA Web site at www.osteopathic.org/."

"medical doctor"...doctor of medicine.

What's the big deal again??

 

[StudentDO09]

What's the big deal again??

Does confusion = big deal 😕

 

[StudentDO09]

"There are two types of physicians in the United States: doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) and medical doctors (M.D.s). For more information on osteopathic medicine, visit the AOA Web site at www.osteopathic.org/."

"medical doctor"...doctor of medicine.

What's the big deal again??

By the way, DOs are medical doctors...

 

[dr.z]

By the way, DOs are medical doctors...

😱

 

[misparas]

By the way, DOs are medical doctors...

Yes I'm well aware...

What is your confusion? I'm not seeing what is so confusing i guess.

Are you suggesting that the phrase is misleading the public? Saying that a D.O. is not a medical doctor? Is that what you are asking? or... Are you asking if M.D. = medical doctor or doctor of medicine?

 

[BklynWill]

M.D. = Doctor of Medicine
D.O. = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

D.O. = Physician = M.D.

I hope that clears up any confusion.

 

[corpsmanUP]

MD does not stand for medical doctor. A "medic doctor" is a legal definition defined by particular state law. MD stands for Doctor of Medicine. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Medical doctors are either MD's or DO's. It is perfectly appropriate for either physician to refer to themselves as a medical doctor.

 

[babloo]

M.D. = Doctor of Medicine
D.O. = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

D.O. = Physician = M.D.

I hope that clears up any confusion.

Perfect. That's what I would say.

 

[StudentDO09]

MD does not stand for medical doctor. A "medic doctor" is a legal definition defined by particular state law. MD stands for Doctor of Medicine. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Medical doctors are either MD's or DO's. It is perfectly appropriate for either physician to refer to themselves as a medical doctor.

👍

 

[OSUdoc08]

I thought MD was Doctor of Medicine but not according to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California 😕 http://www.ombc.ca.gov/

😴

 

[bkpa2med]

Remember that California allowed its DO's to turn into MD's lol

 

[Krazykritter]

This is quite possibly the most ridiculous thread on SDN...I totally agree w/ OSU on this one.

 

[StudentDO09]

This is quite possibly the most ridiculous thread on SDN...I totally agree w/ OSU on this one.

 

[BACMEDIC]

Yes I'm well aware...

What is your confusion? I'm not seeing what is so confusing i guess.

Are you suggesting that the phrase is misleading the public? Saying that a D.O. is not a medical doctor? Is that what you are asking? or... Are you asking if M.D. = medical doctor or doctor of medicine?

Just to chime in – I can see the confusion. We as a group are too close to the problem to see the significance, and viewing the replies shows exactly that.

Look at it from the point of view of a future patient doing research on D.O.s because a friend suggested that she go see one. If she came across that web site, then I think she may conclude that a D.O. is not a medical doctor because that statement implies that D.O.s are not medical doctors. The implication is in the fact that one is called a medical doctor (MD) while the other is called something else (the DO). Of course the rest of the statements are great, but that first paragraph may make such an impact on her that she either does not continue to read (she found her answer, she only wants a real doctor), or that statement tainted her perception so that she does not see the truth in the rest of the statements, or it just outright confuses her.

Obviously there is a misprint and it should read “There are two types of physicians in the United States: doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) and doctors of medicine (M.D.s).”

Personally I find it no big surprise that after some 150 years we still have name recognition problems – the AOA is doing such a swell job, and maybe in another 150 years they may get it right.

 

[chiddy]

I was actually just sitting around thinking today and thought that maybe D.O. should be changed to M.D.O.?? It's a bit more descriptive I think since there is still confusion over whether D.O. is Doctor of Osteopathy (which has a completely different meaning overseas) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Logically, with Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine being the more descriptive title, the letters should be M.D.O.

What's your take on this, or do I just have way too much time on my hands 🙂

 

[BACMEDIC]

I was actually just sitting around thinking today and thought that maybe D.O. should be changed to M.D.O.?? It's a bit more descriptive I think since there is still confusion over whether D.O. is Doctor of Osteopathy (which has a completely different meaning overseas) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Logically, with Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine being the more descriptive title, the letters should be M.D.O.

What's your take on this, or do I just have way too much time on my hands 🙂

M.D.O is a great idea, and I even heard some old salts express interest in that. However, this is a political issue with the possibility of those in power loosing some of that power, so the chances of that happening are slim indeed. It is somewhat hypocritical for the AOA to say DO = MD, then turn around and not let MD candidates rotate through our programs. If we are equal, and I do believe that, with the exception that we have some extra training (OMM), then MDO would show the world that equality and signify that we have some additional training – that alone would clear up the 150 years of confusion that cannot be broken. That recognition would be beneficial to us, our profession, and our patients. Just think how much easier it would be to educate our patients and the general population when they ask what the ‘O’ stands for! I think they would be more inclined to come just for the OMM, at least some would.

The other big point the AOA makes is that our philosophy is different. Personally I think that is an insult to our MD counterparts. To say that our philosophy is superior, or puts the whole patient first, again implies that MDs do not put their patients first, or they only treat the symptom, or whatever. That kind of talk does not breed a team spirit in a profession that needs exactly that. I’ve know many MDs who treat patients the way D.O.s propose to do, and I know D.O.s who do not. Any one can treat their patient as a whole, you don’t need special letters after you name, you just need a heart, and the time!

Let’s face it, the MD side of the fence has opened up to us in many ways in terms of acceptance. Even on a personal level, I’ve had more MD doctors waive fees for me (professional courtesy) once they know that I’m an osteopathic medical student (never had a D.O do that btw). What have we done for them? Sure, they are the big guys, so there properly is not much we can do – but we do not go out of our way to form congenial bridges. We have the AMA and we have the AOA, two big political entities, and the AOA is ensuring that any merger whatsoever is squashed (like a change to M.D.O, the match, taking the same board exam…). The question is not whether it is good for the profession and ultimately our patients; it is a question of what is good for them. I could be wrong, but I have not seen anything to convince me otherwise. If after generations of trying for recognition has not worked, then it is time to try something else.

The D.O. broke off long ago for legitimate differences in treatment. The M.D. side has come a long way and merged more to our way of thinking (i.e., they stopped opening veins to bleed people to cure them), and we in turn put chemicals into peoples bodies when we still do not know the mechanisms. Some allopathic institution teach OMM (did not Harvard have a OMM conference), and many allopathic physicians are not only receptive to OMM techniques, but also what to learn those techniques.

Perhaps the reformation is over. If it is, then as in its beginning, it will take a grass-roots effort to affect change.

 

[misparas]

Logically, with Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine being the more descriptive title, the letters should be M.D.O.

What's your take on this, or do I just have way too much time on my hands 🙂

To avoid confusion "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" should be D.O.M.

We'd hate to have people get the words out of order. 😴

 

[misparas]

By the way... I place my vote for keeping D.O.

I want to go to a D.O. school to be a D.O.

 

[OSUdoc08]

To avoid confusion "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" should be D.O.M.

We'd hate to have people get the words out of order. 😴

D.O.M.

is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Way to avoid confusion!

The public would not know what a DOM is any more than a DO is anyway. What would changing it prove?

 

[misparas]

D.O.M.

is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Way to avoid confusion!

The public would not know what a DOM is any more than a DO is anyway. What would changing it prove?

I was commenting on chiddy's idea. I think it's a bad idea.

If you recall there was confusion about if M.D. is "doctor of medicine" or "medical doctor." I agree, MDO, DOM does nothing and is worthless.

I appologize for not being up on my oriental medicine. I did not wish to offend the all knowing OSUdoc08. Forgive me please?

 

[somnolent]

Diplomat of Osteopathy.......then,

Doctor of Osteopathy..........then,

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

We've changed what the DO stands for, what's the problem with tweaking it one more time? Anyways, with all the new schools opening, some people think that it is business oriented and not health-care related. Wouldn't MDO be more attractive in the business sense?

Don't get me wrong, I'll be proud to get my DO. Although, personally, I prefer to be called somnolent, S.O.B.

 

[StudentDO09]

M.D.O is a great idea, and I even heard some old salts express interest in that. However, this is a political issue with the possibility of those in power loosing some of that power, so the chances of that happening are slim indeed. It is somewhat hypocritical for the AOA to say DO = MD, then turn around and not let MD candidates rotate through our programs. If we are equal, and I do believe that, with the exception that we have some extra training (OMM), then MDO would show the world that equality and signify that we have some additional training – that alone would clear up the 150 years of confusion that cannot be broken. That recognition would be beneficial to us, our profession, and our patients. Just think how much easier it would be to educate our patients and the general population when they ask what the ‘O’ stands for! I think they would be more inclined to come just for the OMM, at least some would.

The other big point the AOA makes is that our philosophy is different. Personally I think that is an insult to our MD counterparts. To say that our philosophy is superior, or puts the whole patient first, again implies that MDs do not put their patients first, or they only treat the symptom, or whatever. That kind of talk does not breed a team spirit in a profession that needs exactly that. I’ve know many MDs who treat patients the way D.O.s propose to do, and I know D.O.s who do not. Any one can treat their patient as a whole, you don’t need special letters after you name, you just need a heart, and the time!

Let’s face it, the MD side of the fence has opened up to us in many ways in terms of acceptance. Even on a personal level, I’ve had more MD doctors waive fees for me (professional courtesy) once they know that I’m an osteopathic medical student (never had a D.O do that btw). What have we done for them? Sure, they are the big guys, so there properly is not much we can do – but we do not go out of our way to form congenial bridges. We have the AMA and we have the AOA, two big political entities, and the AOA is ensuring that any merger whatsoever is squashed (like a change to M.D.O, the match, taking the same board exam…). The question is not whether it is good for the profession and ultimately our patients; it is a question of what is good for them. I could be wrong, but I have not seen anything to convince me otherwise. If after generations of trying for recognition has not worked, then it is time to try something else.

The D.O. broke off long ago for legitimate differences in treatment. The M.D. side has come a long way and merged more to our way of thinking (i.e., they stopped opening veins to bleed people to cure them), and we in turn put chemicals into peoples bodies when we still do not know the mechanisms. Some allopathic institution teach OMM (did not Harvard have a OMM conference), and many allopathic physicians are not only receptive to OMM techniques, but also what to learn those techniques.

Perhaps the reformation is over. If it is, then as in its beginning, it will take a grass-roots effort to affect change.

Very, very well said BACMEDIC

 

[uacharya]

M.D. = Doctor of Medicine
D.O. = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

D.O. = Physician = M.D.

I hope that clears up any confusion.

MD = Doctor of [Allopathic] Medicine
DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
MD = DO = Medical Doctor = FULL Physician

By the way, the AOA along with national government maintain that DOs/MDs are BOTH medical doctors and practice mainstream medicine (i.e. Rx & Surgery + OMM (Yes MDs can also take courses to learn OMM; infact Harvard offers CME in OMM for both DOs and MDs)

Bottom line --> the words medical doctor isn't synonomyous for just the MD degree