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This was supposed to go under Quinn's post in the "stigma" thread, but I can't seem to make my computer *move it*!
Why, Quinn....Perhaps he is off learning to write better English.
DO Stigma--it exists in the minds of a few. Most patients hear that you are a "doctor" and either don't know or don't care which "path" of doctor you are...as long as you can help them.
And to the OP who thinks that patients won't mind that English is not his first language...This depends entirely on where you practice medicine. I know my dear grandfather refused to see a female doctor or a foreign doctor. I myself try to avoid doctors from certain areas because I can't understand them when they speak. Is that racism? Is it "foreign-born" stigma? I don't think so. My daughter is learning English as a second language and I don't understand her either most of the time. When it comes to my health care, I'd rather not translate from broken English to "hillbilly" and back again.
No matter where you go, you will find someone who has some idea about why he doesn't want you for a doctor--whether they have something against DO's or Indians or women or African-Americans. The only way to get past it is to be the best doctor you can be and to be diligent in making sure patients understand you.
A DO I saw a couple of weeks ago was sharing with me that many of his colleagues think if you aren't using OMT on every patient that comes in, you're selling out. He said "If a patient comes in for tonsilitis, they don't want me putting them up on the table and aligning their 'chakras.'" (It was a joke). In 99% of what they do, there is absolutely no difference between the two disciplines and most patients aren't even aware that there is any "controversy" surrounding the two types of training.
Bottom line for the majority of patients--if you're a good doctor, they'll keep coming back.
Willow "stigmas can kiss my butt" Rose
Why, Quinn....Perhaps he is off learning to write better English.
DO Stigma--it exists in the minds of a few. Most patients hear that you are a "doctor" and either don't know or don't care which "path" of doctor you are...as long as you can help them.
And to the OP who thinks that patients won't mind that English is not his first language...This depends entirely on where you practice medicine. I know my dear grandfather refused to see a female doctor or a foreign doctor. I myself try to avoid doctors from certain areas because I can't understand them when they speak. Is that racism? Is it "foreign-born" stigma? I don't think so. My daughter is learning English as a second language and I don't understand her either most of the time. When it comes to my health care, I'd rather not translate from broken English to "hillbilly" and back again.
No matter where you go, you will find someone who has some idea about why he doesn't want you for a doctor--whether they have something against DO's or Indians or women or African-Americans. The only way to get past it is to be the best doctor you can be and to be diligent in making sure patients understand you.
A DO I saw a couple of weeks ago was sharing with me that many of his colleagues think if you aren't using OMT on every patient that comes in, you're selling out. He said "If a patient comes in for tonsilitis, they don't want me putting them up on the table and aligning their 'chakras.'" (It was a joke). In 99% of what they do, there is absolutely no difference between the two disciplines and most patients aren't even aware that there is any "controversy" surrounding the two types of training.
Bottom line for the majority of patients--if you're a good doctor, they'll keep coming back.
Willow "stigmas can kiss my butt" Rose
