Only Solution for Degree Change

[HolisticMed]

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Although I have tremendous interest in OMM and wouldnt trade my future degree for anything in the world.... the truth is that the vast majority of osteopaths are not. The evidence for this is overwhelming. The vast majority of osteopathic doctors simply write Dr.X - Internal Medicine(insert any specialty) rather than their name followed by D.O. Many of my family members and friends are currently under the care of ostoepathic doctors and they do not have any idea that they are D.O.'s nor do they even have a clue as to what the initials mean. When I say the vast majority of the public is ignorant regarding osteopathic medicine, its most probably an understatement. I would say well over 90% have no idea that such a degree even exists, let alone what it means. Unfortunately the title "MD" has garnered overwhelming cultural authority. Sources like "WEBMD", prescription drug commercials which are always sure to zoom in on a doctors name tags that states "MD", the fact that most osteopaths do not even put the letters after their name....all continue to contribute to widespread ignorance regarding this health discipline. The last line of hope we have of educating the public is osteopathic physicians themselves and well we know that this line of communication just isnt happening.

And while I do not believe that simply changing the degree intials to MDO is the answer, I actually do believe it needs to be done and is a great step in the right direction. The process is not as insurmountable as many will have you believe. Just over the last several years we have seen a shift to DPM(doctor of podiatric medicine), DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine), DOM (doctor of oriental medicine) and it is possible that we will soon see DCM (doctor of chiropractic medicine).

If there is any single school curriculum and/or real world practice which most closely mirrors that of traditional allopathic medicine... it is that of osteopathy.... if any professional initials should contain the word medicine in it, first and foremost it should be osteopathic doctors.

If the vast majority want this change to occur there is no reason why it should not. Osteopathic students/docs need to do little else than to follow the footsteps currently underway in virtually all other profession health disciplines. I believe the following is the only solution.

Retrieve the mailing addresses of all osteopathic physicians and/or students in the United States. This information must be available as various different organizations have utilized such mailing lists. Somebody construct a legitimate professional survey asking DO physicians weather or not they support having the "M" in medicine reflected in their degree initials. You can even offer the AOA the benefit of the doubt by assuming that all unreturned surveys equate to the choice of "no". If history and common sense are accurate, over 90% of these surveys will be returned and the vast majority will answer "yes".

You than forward this pursuasive evidence to the AOA, state societies, etc... With this kind of public objective data(50,000 plus respondants) the AOA will have little to debate. They will than certainly consider lobbying for such change.

Weather or not you believe this will dramatically alter the AOA's stand on this issue.... know that this is the only way to get the momentum needed for this to be done.

So whos up for the challenge???

 

[JaggerPlate]

All I will say is that a. People won't return the letters, or we will all find out that a lot of practicing docs actually don't give a flying f*ck (as all pre-meds and med students think). I don't know if I've ever actually heard an attending say they want it. b. This would honestly probably take years and is just huge. c. Nothing else has made the AOA care ... they have stated what it would take to change it ... the board (comprised of old school DOs who want to maintain the separation) would have to vote for it. If this doesn't happen, it won't happen with current AOA. I don't know how the DPM/DVM did it ... but who knows. Maybe this will work, but I don't see it happening. Why doesn't someone open a legit Caribbean school to do the DOtoMD thing?? I mean, AUC can get in and open up a for profit school in the US ... why can't someone open a legit way to do this in the Caribbean. Seems like going around the AOA.

 

[237696]

The vast majority of osteopathic doctors simply write Dr.X - Internal Medicine(insert any specialty) rather than their name followed by D.O. Many of my family members and friends are currently under the care of ostoepathic doctors and they do not have any idea that they are D.O.'s nor do they even have a clue as to what the initials mean.

I don't think the first statement is even true. The vast majority? The second part, though, I have no doubt is true. I think most people will at some point in their lives be treated by a D.O. (even if it's a radiologist who reads their tests) and may or may not know it.

Just a novice opinion, but the MDO idea sounds silly to me. If it comes to a degree merge/change, it should fully merge to MD (like foreign physicians with different degrees such as MBBS use in America) or nothing at all. Personally, to a layperson/patient, I feel MDO would be just as unfamiliar as DO is now.

 

[PipiChen]

Although I have tremendous interest in OMM and wouldnt trade my future degree for anything in the world.... the truth is that the vast majority of osteopaths are not. The evidence for this is overwhelming. The vast majority of osteopathic doctors simply write Dr.X - Internal Medicine(insert any specialty) rather than their name followed by D.O. Many of my family members and friends are currently under the care of ostoepathic doctors and they do not have any idea that they are D.O.'s nor do they even have a clue as to what the initials mean. When I say the vast majority of the public is ignorant regarding osteopathic medicine, its most probably an understatement. I would say well over 90% have no idea that such a degree even exists, let alone what it means. Unfortunately the title "MD" has garnered overwhelming cultural authority. Sources like "WEBMD", prescription drug commercials which are always sure to zoom in on a doctors name tags that states "MD", the fact that most osteopaths do not even put the letters after their name....all continue to contribute to widespread ignorance regarding this health discipline. The last line of hope we have of educating the public is osteopathic physicians themselves and well we know that this line of communication just isnt happening.

And while I do not believe that simply changing the degree intials to MDO is the answer, I actually do believe it needs to be done and is a great step in the right direction. The process is not as insurmountable as many will have you believe. Just over the last several years we have seen a shift to DPM(doctor of podiatric medicine), DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine), DOM (doctor of oriental medicine) and it is possible that we will soon see DCM (doctor of chiropractic medicine).

If there is any single school curriculum and/or real world practice which most closely mirrors that of traditional allopathic medicine... it is that of osteopathy.... if any professional initials should contain the word medicine in it, first and foremost it should be osteopathic doctors.

If the vast majority want this change to occur there is no reason why it should not. Osteopathic students/docs need to do little else than to follow the footsteps currently underway in virtually all other profession health disciplines. I believe the following is the only solution.

Retrieve the mailing addresses of all osteopathic physicians and/or students in the United States. This information must be available as various different organizations have utilized such mailing lists. Somebody construct a legitimate professional survey asking DO physicians weather or not they support having the "M" in medicine reflected in their degree initials. You can even offer the AOA the benefit of the doubt by assuming that all unreturned surveys equate to the choice of "no". If history and common sense are accurate, over 90% of these surveys will be returned and the vast majority will answer "yes".

You than forward this pursuasive evidence to the AOA, state societies, etc... With this kind of public objective data(50,000 plus respondants) the AOA will have little to debate. They will than certainly consider lobbying for such change.

Weather or not you believe this will dramatically alter the AOA's stand on this issue.... know that this is the only way to get the momentum needed for this to be done.

So whos up for the challenge???

there is already another thread dedicated to this matter. Can some mod merge this post into that one?? thanks

and to respond to your challenge: it takes people behind these forum names to come together and formulate a plan. Andex is doing something like that, pm him/her and ask what can you help!

Also, any progressive change should be a full fledged merger that unifies the two equal branches of medical professions. This separate but equal circular argument is outdated. I always imagine it is like a can of 100 years old corned beef without an expiration date - rotting in its own place yet with "FRESHNESS" printed across its label!

 

[PipiChen]

Another thread! Oh my. 😎

I just started a new group(Osteopathic Reform Group) and our platform ,amongst other issues, includes degree change. Everyone interested in this issue can read our discussion and sign-up to be a member. Signing up online is more efficient and cost-effective than sending out letters.

Our website: www.osteoreform.com

The contents and system is still being tweaked but those interested can have a look and perhaps leave a comment(nothing bad please).

tried to sign up and the link is broken 😱

let us know when it is functional! Powers to u!!!!!👍😍

 

[ChiDO]

Maybe you should make a comment page as well for people to leave comments. Kind of like the www.keeptcomdo.com page.

 

[4Doc4]

tried to sign up and the link is broken 😱

let us know when it is functional! Powers to u!!!!!👍😍

Ditto. Great work!

 

[J1515]

, the fact that most osteopaths do not even put the letters after their name....

Ah, good. Another idiotic statement on the osteopathic forum. How about this 'allopath'? Why didn't he put MD after his name?

http://www.daylife.com/photo/04k20v63b67Up


Couldn't bother to read the rest of your rant after this *****ic and false statement.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Another thread! Oh my. 😎

I just started a new group(Osteopathic Reform Group) and our platform ,amongst other issues, includes degree change. Everyone interested in this issue can read our discussion and sign-up to be a member. Signing up online is more efficient and cost-effective than sending out letters.

Our website: www.osteoreform.com

The contents and system is still being tweaked but those interested can have a look and perhaps leave a comment(nothing bad please).

Wow you already made the site. Looks good. Sites for, sites against ... jeeze.

 

[slick27]

They should just all grant MD's and make OMM an elective at all medical schools. I don't like the MDO idea. It would just be another initial that know body knows. However, the MD with emphasis in osteopathy might be interesting.

 

[JaggerPlate]

They should just all grant MD's and make OMM an elective at all medical schools. I don't like the MDO idea. It would just be another initial that know body knows. However, the MD with emphasis in osteopathy might be interesting.

Just do this: MD-O or MDo ...

Just as an aside ... my PCP is a DO and his name is Joseph M. xxx (don't really want to include his last name w/o his permission) and on some forms from his office it's printed xxxx, Joseph M. and then his medical degree so it says xxx, Joseph M. D.O. doesn't look too strange.

 

[Jamers]

Although I have tremendous interest in OMM and wouldnt trade my future degree for anything in the world.... the truth is that the vast majority of osteopaths are not. The evidence for this is overwhelming. The vast majority of osteopathic doctors simply write Dr.X - Internal Medicine(insert any specialty) rather than their name followed by D.O. Many of my family members and friends are currently under the care of ostoepathic doctors and they do not have any idea that they are D.O.'s nor do they even have a clue as to what the initials mean. When I say the vast majority of the public is ignorant regarding osteopathic medicine, its most probably an understatement. I would say well over 90% have no idea that such a degree even exists, let alone what it means. Unfortunately the title "MD" has garnered overwhelming cultural authority. Sources like "WEBMD", prescription drug commercials which are always sure to zoom in on a doctors name tags that states "MD", the fact that most osteopaths do not even put the letters after their name....all continue to contribute to widespread ignorance regarding this health discipline. The last line of hope we have of educating the public is osteopathic physicians themselves and well we know that this line of communication just isnt happening.

And while I do not believe that simply changing the degree intials to MDO is the answer, I actually do believe it needs to be done and is a great step in the right direction. The process is not as insurmountable as many will have you believe. Just over the last several years we have seen a shift to DPM(doctor of podiatric medicine), DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine), DOM (doctor of oriental medicine) and it is possible that we will soon see DCM (doctor of chiropractic medicine).

If there is any single school curriculum and/or real world practice which most closely mirrors that of traditional allopathic medicine... it is that of osteopathy.... if any professional initials should contain the word medicine in it, first and foremost it should be osteopathic doctors.

If the vast majority want this change to occur there is no reason why it should not. Osteopathic students/docs need to do little else than to follow the footsteps currently underway in virtually all other profession health disciplines. I believe the following is the only solution.

Retrieve the mailing addresses of all osteopathic physicians and/or students in the United States. This information must be available as various different organizations have utilized such mailing lists. Somebody construct a legitimate professional survey asking DO physicians weather or not they support having the "M" in medicine reflected in their degree initials. You can even offer the AOA the benefit of the doubt by assuming that all unreturned surveys equate to the choice of "no". If history and common sense are accurate, over 90% of these surveys will be returned and the vast majority will answer "yes".

You than forward this pursuasive evidence to the AOA, state societies, etc... With this kind of public objective data(50,000 plus respondants) the AOA will have little to debate. They will than certainly consider lobbying for such change.

Weather or not you believe this will dramatically alter the AOA's stand on this issue.... know that this is the only way to get the momentum needed for this to be done.

So whos up for the challenge???

When people make bold statements like "the majority of the public" or the "vast majority of osteopathic doctors" it makes me do two things: 1) stop reading and 2) ask where you did this amazing research to find this facts. The simple fact is...well, you didn't. You are just quoting facts out of your ass and using "weight loss commercial proof" anecdotal evidence to back up your claims. Go out and do the research to show me the evidence behind these two claims and I will read the rest of your post.

 

[tkim]

The vast majority of osteopathic doctors simply write Dr.X - Internal Medicine(insert any specialty) rather than their name followed by D.O.

Here's one that does. It's there, just blurry.

But really, I just want to be a physician. The letters after my name make no difference.

 

[aterry]

So, I read the site about the degree change and I like the idea of being a Medical Doctor with advanced training in OMM. I think that makes us distinguished from MDs (appeasing the AOA) while also solving a lot of international licensing issues. This excites me as a possibility but how plausible is this solution as to coming to fruition?

 

[dreambig2night]

Ill keep DO thank you very much!

Id rather keep a 2 letter designation than DOM, MDO , MOD or any other 3 letter alternative.
I think a 3 letter alternative makes our profession look like wannabees.

The only alternatives I will settle for are:

1. MD(osteo), if it can even be done

2. MD, if the two medical societies merge, or come to some common agreement

3. MD, DO, just like Dr. Andrew Taylor Still

 

[MossPoh]

I think the only solution is better marketing and churning out solid physicians that can represent it in a positive manner. The "MD" is engraved in the minds of americans as the true doctor. I've never seen problems with DOs, but I do get frustrated with the pretentious premeds douchebags...

I think osteopathic medicine has a minor identity crisis. We can't decide whether we want to be separate but equal with unique educational differences or simply equal with different letters. I almost wish that we all got the MD for completing the standard medical curriculum and then if we took the OMM as electives got a DO. Make the DO be the letters you get for extra work. Stupid and pointless I know....Just my mind wandering.

 

[PipiChen]

Here's one that does. It's there, just blurry.

But really, I just want to be a physician. The letters after my name make no difference.

If I may, he kinda looks like a butcher....😍 j/k

the pretentious premeds douchebags..

is tht y u identify yourself as a pre-health?? this may sounds stupid, but what do u mean anywayz

 

[DannMann99]

You have to seriously stop debating this issue for the sanity of everyone.

1) there is already a running thread about this with 7 pages of bull**** to sift through.

2) most of you people (myself included) are not DOs yet. You shouldn't have much of a say in something that you dont even have yet (though you should have some).

3) some of you people haven't even started day 1 of medical school, and i'd imagine some haven't even gotten an acceptance yet.

Everyone wants change. I'm all for an organized directed push in some direction but honestly every weekend its a giant pissing party about my degree (and i'm not into watersports).


No one wants to hear your two sense about how your particular bitch/moan/gripe needs to be heard and you have something to say. The more people relentlessly bitch about the degree the more I want to NOT change it.



--------
PS: I haven't read more then 1/2 of the first post so sorry if this has been said already. 👍
--------
PPS: Maybe DiMarco had it kind of right. While its alittle impractical to quit med school/being a doctor and go through allo training at an MD school if you're not okay with the degree designation; There shouldn't be much of a problem if you haven't even gotten in to a DO school yet... You have nothing to lose. Ugh frustrating

 

[DocyBear]

You have to seriously stop debating this issue for the sanity of everyone.

1) there is already a running thread about this with 7 pages of bull**** to sift through.

2) most of you people (myself included) are not DOs yet. You shouldn't have much of a say in something that you dont even have yet (though you should have some).

3) some of you people haven't even started day 1 of medical school, and i'd imagine some haven't even gotten an acceptance yet.

Everyone wants change. I'm all for an organized directed push in some direction but honestly every weekend its a giant pissing party about my degree (and i'm not into watersports).


No one wants to hear your two sense about how your particular bitch/moan/gripe needs to be heard and you have something to say. The more people relentlessly bitch about the degree the more I want to NOT change it.



--------
PS: I haven't read more then 1/2 of the first post so sorry if this has been said already. 👍
--------
PPS: Maybe DiMarco had it kind of right. While its alittle impractical to quit med school/being a doctor and go through allo training at an MD school if you're not okay with the degree designation; There shouldn't be much of a problem if you haven't even gotten in to a DO school yet... You have nothing to lose. Ugh frustrating

you are one happy DO student at PCOM 🙂 They have the rights to talk and discuss whatever they like and it is our choice to read. If it is not something that grapples your attention, just leave it be

 

[DannMann99]

you are one happy DO student at PCOM 🙂 They have the rights to talk and discuss whatever they like and it is our choice to read. If it is not something that grapples your attention, just leave it be

memorizing countless antibiotics has made me a genuinely unpleasant person. How'd you know i'm from pcom. are you in my hell too?

 

[DocyBear]

memorizing countless antibiotics has made me a genuinely unpleasant person. How'd you know i'm from pcom. are you in my hell too?

I was fancied by your love for pcom in the pre-osteopathic forum! 😀 although I am in a separate hell from yours not too far away, I am a student of Dr. Pascucci 👍

 

[Peptoboy]

yet another thread about solving all of "our" problems with a degree name change. I also appreciate the fact that you are speaking for the whole osteopathic community, including all the practicing that are happy being D.O.'s. From what I have heard, they think the only way to be a good physician is through hard work and caring. It also doesn't seem as though they are short on patients. Every D.O. that I know also has his name and D.O. initials on his white coat, if he wears a white coat.

 

[tkim]

Jesus man. Why not just retake a good picture?

That was a candid shot someone else took. I'm not in the habit of taking my own pic.

 

[PipiChen]

That was a candid shot someone else took. I'm not in the habit of taking my own pic.

sure you were caught in surprise and just looked kinda of stressed~

u need a break dear Doc 😍

 

[tdittyx2x3]

Personally I would be interested in knowing how many physicians who actually hold the DO degree would vote "yes" to a degree change to MD. Only out of curiosity - I don't feel that as a future DO I have much say anyway.

But this actually wouldn't be that hard to carry out. It's not about getting every single DO to respond, its about getting a large enough and diverse enough sample. Get a certain number from each gender, specialty, and state. Doesn't have to be n=20,000. More like n = 500. Don't be surprised if you get a resounding NO, though.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I think we should change it from D.O. to DO ... it's the periods that are really ****ing with people.

 

[Terpskins99]

Personally I would be interested in knowing how many physicians who actually hold the DO degree would vote "yes" to a degree change to MD. Only out of curiosity - I don't feel that as a future DO I have much say anyway.

But this actually wouldn't be that hard to carry out. It's not about getting every single DO to respond, its about getting a large enough and diverse enough sample. Get a certain number from each gender, specialty, and state. Doesn't have to be n=20,000. More like n = 500. Don't be surprised if you get a resounding NO, though.

You'd have to have a 3rd option: Don't give a **** either way.

Option 3 would win in a landslide.

 

[GlobeMedder]

The real problem of where the discrimination comes from is bc really osteopathic medicine is fairly new relatively speaking. I don't know what the exact stats are but I know that there is a good amount of MDs compared to DOs practicing in the US. This is where the problem is at the amount of DOs is why people don't see them as equal to MDs but as osteopathic medicine continues to grow this will change with time. Any attending that has been around for awhile will tell you 20 years ago that DOs were not thought of the way they are today. The reason for this stems from the growth of osteopathic medicine. As this growth continues so to will the respect level for DOs. This is just my honest opinion but I am sure that people will thrash me for saying this but this is the reality of the situation.

 

[Hernandez]

But I've already got a name stamper that says DO, I really don't want to have to buy another one, that cheap piece of plastic cost me $35!

 

[J-Rad]

But I've already got a name stamper that says DO, I really don't want to have to buy another one, that cheap piece of plastic cost me $35!

Should have bought a Stamper Pen-they da' bomb.
http://www.stamperpens.com/

 

[tkim]

But I've already got a name stamper that says DO, I really don't want to have to buy another one, that cheap piece of plastic cost me $35!

Would you switch to MD if a new stamper cost you only $11:

http://www.rubberstampman.com/pocket-stamps/pocket-50-stamp.htm

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxmYok-5Tlc&feature=channel_page[/YOUTUBE]

 

[NurWollen]

In my humble opinion, I think changing the DO degree is absurd. Intitials do not make the doctor. Years of hard work ad sacrifice do, whether they be MD or DO students.

Also, even if a degree change were appropriate, MDO is still not MD. Nobody I know of thinks a DMD is a more-doctor like dentist than a DDS. They're dentists. Plane and simple.

What needs to happen does involve a change in policy, such as reigning in excessive growth of DO schools, improving AOA residencies, and banning for-profit schools. From what i've read on SDN it seems like maybe having stricter accreditation in the area of set rotations, etc might be a good thing. More effort needs to be put in increase public awareness of DO's
However, simply changing the degree (which is in essence getting rid of it) won't help anything.

 

[NurWollen]

Also, could be wrong, but sometimes I think SDN is the only place where anyone freaks out about the quality of DO schools. My pre-med advisor (I know, they sometimes say wierd stuff) has talked to MD Adcoms who have said that within a few years DO schools will have no percieved difference from MD schools. This seems to be supported by stats. DO schools' admission statistics are getting more competitive every year, fast approeching parity with those of MD schools.

My point is, every non-SDN source I've read, physicians I've talked with, etc., seems to indicate osteopathic medicine is on its way up, not in some kind of doomsday decline as one would suspect from reading SDN. Yes I know the AOA is, apparently, autocratic and out of touch, but the degree itself, it seems, will grow in popularity and recognition to the point where any debate is pointless.

 

[Hernandez]

Would you switch to MD if a new stamper cost you only $11:

http://www.rubberstampman.com/pocket-stamps/pocket-50-stamp.htm

Ah, but there will be other fees, like the $50 worth of silver that I'd have to give to the California state board to get my md (not MD), and then the fees to have my diplomas reprinted, then my buisness cards, my white coats, by cutsom embroidered silk boxers. I'd rather spend that money on booze so I can forget the ganglion omar release.

 

[Peptoboy]

Also, could be wrong, but sometimes I think SDN is the only place where anyone freaks out about the quality of DO schools. My pre-med advisor (I know, they sometimes say wierd stuff) has talked to MD Adcoms who have said that within a few years DO schools will have no percieved difference from MD schools. This seems to be supported by stats. DO schools' admission statistics are getting more competitive every year, fast approeching parity with those of MD schools.

My point is, every non-SDN source I've read, physicians I've talked with, etc., seems to indicate osteopathic medicine is on its way up, not in some kind of doomsday decline as one would suspect from reading SDN. Yes I know the AOA is, apparently, autocratic and out of touch, but the degree itself, it seems, will grow in popularity and recognition to the point where any debate is pointless.

👍Great Post! Extremely good points, same feeling here. I am proud of what I have worked for and I am growing weary of the doomsday crap myself. I have said this over and over and I never see a rebuttal; if you don't want the D.O. degree, go US allopathic or Caribbean.

 

[Fergison2]

Another thread! Oh my. 😎

I just started a new group(Osteopathic Reform Group) and our platform ,amongst other issues, includes degree change. Everyone interested in this issue can read our discussion and sign-up to be a member. Signing up online is more efficient and cost-effective than sending out letters.

Our website: www.osteoreform.com

The contents and system is still being tweaked but those interested can have a look and perhaps leave a comment(nothing bad please).

Nice job!! This is a great start. I also think that a comment pages for separate objectives would be great. Such as a comment page to leave suggestions and pool resources etc for degree change, a page dedicated to opening up AOA residencies, one for taking the track of foreign MBBS via USMLE, one for research etc.
A mechanism to pool informational resources such as legal etc and come together on these fronts would be fantastic.

Again, NICE!

 

[jonb12997]

I was going to write out this big long response, but I sort of feel like DO's are finally, (in the areas i've been to) starting to get at least recognized if not respected...

How can I, when my diploma will say in a short 3 1/2 months D.O. (not MDO or MD(osteopathic)) or anything like that, someday change my degree. Will they just let those of us that already have our degree keep the DO and then start giving new degrees or are we all going to have to change our letter heads, licenses, diplomas, etc?

 

[JLM]

So Im pretty "middle of the road" on this degree change issue. But, I didnt really know where else to post this. Its pretty good for a laugh, I think. And, it kinda demonstrates how well the public understands our role. But, if anyone knows of a good osteopathic registered nurse practitioner that can hook me up with some reef . . . 😏


Lawmakers consider expanding marijuana law

By MADELYN FAIRBANKS
P-I REPORTER
OLYMPIA -- JoAnna McKee wakes up everyday to a burning ball of pain from multiple injuries in her lower back. The pain nearly consumes her, making it almost impossible to begin her day.
"The doctors said they can't give me enough medicine to take care of the pain. So I do what I can with the pharmaceuticals, but marijuana is what keeps me from becoming totally overwhelmed by the pain," said McKee, 65.
"Without the marijuana to distract my focus of the pain, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning."
McKee is lucky that she lives in Seattle where access to a physician is fairly nearby. Under current law passed by voter initiative in 2007, qualifying patients may possess marijuana upon obtaining documentation citing that a physician recommends that the patient may benefit from its use. This exempts them from legal prosecution for possessing marijuana.
But many other Washington residents who qualify aren't so lucky. For some patients, who suffer anything from cancer or AIDS wasting syndrome, this may mean driving hours to meet with a physician at a major medical facility because they typically access medical care at a neighborhood clinic.
Senate Bill 5798 would expand the definition of those who can recommend the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Under current law, the provider must be a patient's physician. The bill proposes to change "physician" to "health-care provider" in order to include others in that category including registered nurse practitioners, physician assistant, osteopathic physician, and osteopathic physicians' assistant.
Primary bill sponsor Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, wants to expand the provider's definition mainly out of concern for those living in rural areas, especially eastern Washington.
Kohl-Welles said that people who are in ravaging pain shouldn't have to drive what can be hundreds of miles to visit with a physician, especially when they are accustomed to meeting with a nurse practitioner or assistant of some kind.
"It's just common sense that someone who is desperately ill, or has other physical conditions covered under the law, could get that recommendation from someone in a nearby clinic," Kohl-Welles said.
But Don Pierce, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs worries that changing the wording of the law could be changing what the people had in mind when they created the initiative in the first place.
"It seems like every session there's some bill to modify what the voters approved," Pierce said. "They made a decision based upon good information and believed it should be a physician. We ought to honor what the voters decided."
Senator Karen Keiser, D-Kent, chair of the committee hearing the bill, isn't sure how her fellow committee members will feel yet, but said she doesn't expect much opposition on the issue.
"The issue has been moved, passed, and supported in the past, so it's not new to us," Keiser said.

 

[bigDinLV]

No need to change anything. We're being recognized now so lets not start over.

If you are a DO and really want to change to MD then do one of those crappy online DO to MD degrees. Pay some school to do their online courses, pass the USMLE and get your MD license.

Nur, Jonb and pepto.. I'm with you guys..

 

[slick27]

Senate Bill 5798 would expand the definition of those who can recommend the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Under current law, the provider must be a patient's physician. The bill proposes to change "physician" to "health-care provider" in order to include others in that category including registered nurse practitioners, physician assistant, osteopathic physician, and osteopathic physicians' assistant.


For the sake of osteopathic PA's, lets change our degree to make them equal to Allopathic PA's. lol. You're right this was way funny.

 

[J1515]

I can't wait for osteopathic child life specialists.

 

[nevinleiby]

If you are using Mac, Mozilla Foxfire or mobile device, it probably won't let you sign-up or comment .

It seems to work only with Windows Internet Explorer(IE) for now. Let me know it goes.

And Chrome =)

 

[nevinleiby]

Ah, but there will be other fees,....I'd rather spend that money on ...

You'd have to have a 3rd option: Don't give a **** either way.

Option 3 would win in a landslide.

I think the only solution is better marketing and churning out solid physicians that can represent it in a positive manner. The "MD" is engraved in the minds of americans as the true doctor. I've never seen problems with DOs, but I do get frustrated with the pretentious premeds douchebags...

I think osteopathic medicine has a minor identity crisis. We can't decide whether we want to be separate but equal with unique educational differences or simply equal with different letters. I almost wish that we all got the MD for completing the standard medical curriculum and then if we took the OMM as electives got a DO. Make the DO be the letters you get for extra work. Stupid and pointless I know....Just my mind wandering.

👍

Unfortunately, I would expect that only the really passionate would likely respond and you can be sure that it would be the tradionalists. I'd expect that others would be indifferent and not want to pay $ to "resolve" something they don't see as a problem.

I think its sad that osteopathy will probably always have some form of identity crisis among traditionalists, indifferent, and silly pre-meds as long as it's a different track. I don't think that enough of them recognize that pursing osteopathy was just a little more convenient b/c of location, cost (re-applying, re-testing, etc) or just a better feel for a program (esp non-trads).

I also found it hilarious when I went to my PCOM interview with 2 visibly allo candidates. One was from Columbia U (wow...she must have really messed up) and the other one was just visibly rude. Neither of them were accepted anywhere and were saying they would rather go to the carribean instead of attending osteo. They were also snickering at the MSI students giving the tour but yet asked "So, have you guys taken the boards yet?" wtf!?

But regardless, I feel that osteos pushing for a "do this, do that, change this, etc" always degrades us a little more by hospital admins and allopathic colleagues.

My $0.00002

 

[midwesterner]

If some of you could change your letters to an MD instead of DO with no extra costs/hassles/etc, would you? I hear so much about how the two degrees are the same that it makes me think we should just combine them into one degree (we can all pick DO, I don't care). I just think it would get old to explain to people how DOs and MDs are the same and yet have different letters. Poor patients are probably going to be so confused with the slew of different degrees that abound in the medical profession...NPs, ANPs (or something like that), CNPs, DNPs, LPNs, RNs, MAs, PsyD, DMD, and so forth.

 

[mededu]

andexterouss

www.osteoreform.com -- Real Nice site and good initiative, highly appreciated, keep it up

 

[J-Rad]

If some of you could change your letters to an MD instead of DO with no extra costs/hassles/etc, would you? I hear so much about how the two degrees are the same that it makes me think we should just combine them into one degree (we can all pick DO, I don't care). I just think it would get old to explain to people how DOs and MDs are the same and yet have different letters. Poor patients are probably going to be so confused with the slew of different degrees that abound in the medical profession...NPs, ANPs (or something like that), CNPs, DNPs, LPNs, RNs, MAs, PsyD, DMD, and so forth.

I generally try to stay out of these DO name change debates because they're a whole lot of huff and puff but...
1) No I wouldn't change it. For free even. I went to a school that granted a DO. I worked my ass off for that degree. It's gotten me a great deal in my short career.
2) Patient's are not confused. This whole concept of DOs having to spend inordinate amounts of time having to explain what they are to poor confused patients is SDN mythology. At the risk of using the second most overused recent phrase on SDN (the first being "I won't drink "X" Kool Aid"), this is a straw man. People put it out there like it's the reality of DOs existence (it's not) and then solve this non-existent problem with the DO name change. Its brother straw man is the "with the confusion over DNPs, PA/PhDs, etc...". But the concern with this is not whether physicians (MD and DO) are being confused with mid-levels, but rather whether mid-levels are being confused with physicians (and getting one over on the public). It may seem small, but I think there is a world of difference in those two concepts.
Unless you have some experience as a practicing osteopathic physician to back yourself up, you're just drinking someone's Kool Aid.

 

[NPEMTIV]

I think we should change it from D.O. to DO ... it's the periods that are really ****ing with people.

At last! Jagger...you are always a source of light and reason. I applaud this effort and will sign your petition to remove the periods. Actually, we should remove all periods, not just in initials See how I didn't put a period here Nor did I put a question mark just then


👍👍

 

[NPEMTIV]

But I've already got a name stamper that says DO, I really don't want to have to buy another one, that cheap piece of plastic cost me $35!

I already put mine on layaway! I refuse to loose my deposit.

 

[J-Rad]

I think we should change it from D.O. to DO ... it's the periods that are really ****ing with people.

I go by my middle name, so when I type out my name it's S. J-Rad Wendelheimerschmidt, DO. I feel complelled to put the period there. But I don't like the periods in the DO. It's asthetically...unappealing. But this discongruity causes me to have a grammatical anxiety attack every time I see it in print. I actually have to ponder on this every time I write my name. 😉

 

[slick27]

Hey J-Rad,

According to your location, "with my children of the corn," I assume you graduated from DMU? What fellowship are you in? I'm just curious, is all.