What's the worst thing that can happen if a DO impersonates an MD?

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KnuxNole said:
I've heard a NP say that she call doctors Mr. if they don't call her a doctor. It's a "two way street of trust".
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Ha, that's hilarious. But I don't mind being called something other than "Dr."... my ego isn't tied to the title. The word "Doctor" refers to your degree, not your profession. If you have a PhD in nursing or a PharmD or a podiatry doctorate, you're officially a doctor. If you're licensed as an NP and a PA and a CNA and you have an MPH and an MBA and a master's in psychology (with psychotherapy training) and a and six other master's degrees, you're still not a doctor.
 
KnuxNole said:
I've heard a NP say that she call doctors Mr. if they don't call her a doctor. It's a "two way street of trust".
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if i heard that i would seriously laugh in her face. i don't even care.
 
KnuxNole said:
I've heard a NP say that she call doctors Mr. if they don't call her a doctor. It's a "two way street of trust".
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I understand her being a bit touchy about that, but her view is kinda narrow. When patients think the word, "doctor", they expect a physician. Calling everyone that has earned a doctorate that works within a clinical setting "doctor", I assume, would confuse the patients. Not a consideration on her part? I'd ignore her. When I'm done with school, I wouldn't care if people called me Erik (assuming no disrespect intended), but what you've described is an example of blatant disrespect.
 
CDI said:
👍

Should ask her what medical school she went to in front of a patient.
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dude, i'd be like - so which browser did you use to get that "doctorate"... google chrome or firefox? wait.. knowing you, it's probably IE
 
KnuxNole said:
I've heard a NP say that she call doctors Mr. if they don't call her a doctor. It's a "two way street of trust".
Click to expand...

:laugh:

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
KnuxNole said:
I've heard a NP say that she call doctors Mr. if they don't call her a doctor. It's a "two way street of trust".
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Interprofessional disrespect is not cool, but her reaction in that case seems a little absurd.

Regarding patient confusion, I have a DPT friend who simply introduces himself by first and last name, leaving Dr out to avoid any confusion.
 
NeuroLAX said:
Interprofessional disrespect is not cool, but her reaction in that case seems a little absurd.

Regarding patient confusion, I have a DPT friend who simply introduces himself by first and last name, leaving Dr out to avoid any confusion.
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How about we stop saying doctor and just use our professional title instead... Then what are the overzealous NPs gonna do? They can't call themselves physicians...
 
CDI said:
Just cause they're licensed the same doesn't mean they can go around saying they have a Doctorate in Medicine or even use the MD title...
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You are right about using the "MD" title, but what exactly do you think a DO is a doctorate in?

Osteopathic Medicine

They are both doctorates in medicine. Both allowing holders of the degrees an unrestricted and equivalent rights to practice Medicine (there's that word again) in the USA as a doctorate level trained physician.

You might be thinking of "Medicinae Doctor" which are the latin words that are the source of the "MD" abbreviation. Yeah DO's shouldn't go around telling people they have a "Medicinae Doctor", is that what you meant?

If some future patient of mine asks if I have a doctorate in medicine (as a future DO) I'm going to say yes, because that's the truth.

If they're still interested I'll address the subtle differences between DO and MD which takes all of 10 seconds because it amounts to exactly whether or not a physician has been trained in OMM during medical school.

But if you think 99% of patients are going to care about this type of esoteric nonsense you're wrong.
 
SLC said:
You are right about using the "MD" title, but what exactly do you think a DO is a doctorate in?

Osteopathic Medicine

They are both doctorates in medicine. Both allowing holders of the degrees an unrestricted and equivalent rights to practice Medicine (there's that word again) in the USA as a doctorate level trained physician.

You might be thinking of "Medicinae Doctor" which are the latin words that are the source of the "MD" abbreviation.

If some future patient of mine asks if I have a doctorate in medicine (as a future DO) I'm going to say yes, because that's the truth.

If they're still interested I'll address the subtle differences between DO and MD which takes all of 10 seconds because it amounts to exactly whether or not a physician has been trained in OMM during medical school.

But if you think 99% of patients are going to care about this type of esoteric nonsense you're wrong.
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Wrong.

Wiki "MD" - Doctorate of Medicine.

Wiki "DO" - Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine.

Not the same no matter how you want to put it. Feel free to hide the word and misrepresent your own hard earned degree though. Patients don't care, cause they don't know. However, I agree that if they truly did know, they would have an understanding and THEN truly not care though. Which is how it should be.

It'll be funny if you ever try to practice overseas and tell someone you have a "Doctorate of Medicine" then show them your credentials and they look at you like you're from Mars.
 
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CDI said:
DO equal rights/freedom fighters have infiltrated the Allopathic forum.

I think its kind of like when Android fanboys post crap in iPhone forums and threads.
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Typical "us vs them" psychology. :beer:
 
While we're at it, we should just call all nurses, PAs, MDs, and DOs "medicine people."
 
To answer the actual question of the thread- the only thing that happens when a DO impersonates an MD is that the DO proves that MD > DO. 😀
 
CDI said:
Wrong.

Wiki "MD" - Doctorate of Medicine.

Wiki "DO" - Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine.
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Well if we're splitting hairs (and this really has gotten to that point apparently) then according to your "source" nobody can accurately say they have a Doctorate in Medicine, is that how I am to interpret your posts?

Because as far as I'm concerned, both DO and MD are doctorate degrees in the practice of Modern Western Medicine. But as I said before "MD" stands for Medicinae Doctor and not "Doctorate in/of Medicine" so what's the hang up again?
 
Well personally, I'm going to an allopathic school, so I might be a little offended if a DO was just like "yup, same difference." No, sir, it's not. Not saying DO is < or >, just different. I'd expect the same if an MD started reppin DO (not that it would happen).
 
WompyWomperton said:
Well personally, I'm going to an allopathic school, so I might be a little offended if a DO was just like "yup, same difference." No, sir, it's not. Not saying DO is < or >, just different. I'd expect the same if an MD started reppin' DO (not that it would happen).
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Exactly!! We need to end this political correctness in everything! Everything is not the same!
 
SLC said:
Well if we're splitting hairs (and this really has gotten to that point apparently) then according to your "source" nobody can accurately say they have a Doctorate in Medicine, is that how I am to interpret your posts?

Because as far as I'm concerned, both DO and MD are doctorate degrees in the practice of Modern Western Medicine. But as I said before "MD" stands for Medicinae Doctor and not "Doctorate in/of Medicine" so what's the hang up again?
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According to Google, MD stands for Doctor of medicine. Type "what does MD stand for" into a Google search.
 
SLC said:
Well if we're splitting hairs (and this really has gotten to that point apparently) then according to your "source" nobody can accurately say they have a Doctorate in Medicine, is that how I am to interpret your posts?

Because as far as I'm concerned, both DO and MD are doctorate degrees in the practice of Modern Western Medicine. But as I said before "MD" stands for Medicinae Doctor and not "Doctorate in/of Medicine" so what's the hang up again?
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This is embarassing to even have to explain...

MD is Doctorate of Medicine. Medicinae Doctor is the latin root...it is NOT the degree. Understand now?

Therefore, Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine =/= Doctorate of Medicine

You will have a Doctorate in Ostoepathic Medicine, NOT a Doctorate in Medicine...no matter how you spin it.

In the case of an IMG who has an MBBS, they will always have a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery they will NEVER have a Doctorate. They are only allowed to use the "M.D." initials in the strictest sense on correspondence and whatever else they may need to. This is to show that they have equivalent degrees in allopathic medicine. They can't/shouldn't expand their M.D. to misrepresent their degree.
 
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CDI said:
This is embarassing to even have to explain...

MD is Doctorate of Medicine. Medicinae Doctor is the latin root...it is NOT the degree. Understand now?

Therefore, Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine =/= Doctorate of Medicine
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Ha ha, tell me then, what does JD stand for? Hint, it's latin just like MD.

If MD is Doctor of Medicine, then why not call it DM?
 
I don't even know what the argument is anymore.
 
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SLC said:
Ha ha, tell me then, what does JD stand for? Hint, it's latin just like MD.

If MD is Doctor of Medicine, then why not call it DM?
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WTF is going on here. Are we seriously arguing about this? DO is not doctor of medicine, it's doctor of osteopathic medicine, that's why there's an O in there for god's sake. Dont' like it? tough, maybe you should have gone to MD school.
 
SLC said:
Ha ha, tell me then, what does JD stand for? Hint, it's latin just like MD.

If MD is Doctor of Medicine, then why not call it DM?
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What's the point of all this semantic BS, SLC? You both know that the two degrees are not the same and are not interchangeable. End of pissing match.
 
NeuroLAX said:
What's the point of all this semantic BS, SLC? You both know that the two degrees are not the same and are not interchangeable. End of pissing match.
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Oh I know they aren't the same, I've never argued they are. People on this site are wired to think that way, but that's never been my argument.

I have argued that they are both Doctorates of Medicine, which they are. Just two different degrees.

It is just semantics, but I thought this whole thread was built on issues of semantics. I'm not the one getting worked up about this though. As far as I'm concerned, there is no "pissing match".
 
SLC said:
Ha ha, tell me then, what does JD stand for? Hint, it's latin just like MD.

If MD is Doctor of Medicine, then why not call it DM?
Click to expand...

In other countries, you actually get a D.M. once you complete your fellowship.

In those countries, you get an MBBS/MBBCh first, and then after residnecy you get a M.D. However you are licensed as a primary care provider as soon as you get an MBBS/MBBCh.

The US has its own system though...including DO which exists nowhere else in the world.
 
rog411 said:
WTF is going on here. Are we seriously arguing about this? DO is not doctor of medicine, it's doctor of osteopathic medicine, that's why there's an O in there for god's sake. Dont' like it? tough, maybe you should have gone to MD school.
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You completely misunderstand my whole take on this. Take a step back and re-read what I've written without any pre-conceived notion about what I must be saying as a "DO student".

Believe me, I wouldn't have matriculated into DO if I didn't "Like it".

I'm just saying that I'm not earning a doctorate in anything other than medicine at the moment.
 
SLC said:
Oh I know they aren't the same, I've never argued they are.

I have argued that they are both Doctorates of Medicine, which they are. Just two different degrees.

It is just semantics, but I thought this whole thread was built on issues of semantics. I'm not the one getting worked up about this though.
Click to expand...

I don't think there would be anywhere near as much hubbub about this if you hadn't capitalized the "Doctorates of Medicine." You can just leave it at DO is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and MD as Doctor of Medicine. They are indeed both doctorates, in the field of medicine, but there's no need for the gray area imposed by designations such as "Doctorates of Medicine." Does that make any sense?
 
I used to go out of my way to explain being a DO student, but now I dread the conversation. It can sometimes confuse the heck out of the average person when you try to explain the subtle difference of DO vs. MD. The questions start flowing -- "wait, so are you going to be a doctor, right? Is that like a chiropractor?" And sometimes in the end it really seems like they don't get it.

Saying we treat the ''whole patient'', the body has the ability to heal itself, etc -- I have yet to see the incorporation of this philosophy being distinct to DOs. Several MDs at my school have commented on this and I think our faculty are actually more MDs than DOs. If there is any difference at all I've seen it's that the MDs are actually more knowledgeable in basic science/anatomy and emphasize research/studies in their lectures more. And I try to model/learn from them as much as I can.

The only difference I see is OMM. And many of us don't like it or question its validity/purpose.

Some people probably think I am going to be an MD. I don't go out of my way to make sure they know I am a DO student because IMO that isn't really a good use of my time. If they ask specifically what osteopathic/DO means then I will explain it to them. But right now I am more concerned with studying hard and absorbing as much info as possible rather than trying to flaunt osteopathic philosophy. Maybe what I'm saying would anger fellow DO students but really if you focus on being great and put in the hard work people will eventually know what a DO is. And it won't have to be explained.
 
SLC said:
Oh I know they aren't the same, I've never argued they are. People on this site are wired to think that way, but that's never been my argument.

I have argued that they are both Doctorates of Medicine, which they are. Just two different degrees.

It is just semantics, but I thought this whole thread was built on issues of semantics. I'm not the one getting worked up about this though. As far as I'm concerned, there is no "pissing match".
Click to expand...

It's not semantics though, learn about the history of DO and the basis behind it. DO started as a giant massage cult (for lack of better word...alright maybe alternative to allopathy could have worked there), and then instead its own degree holders gravitated back into allopathic medicine for some odd reason.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19654272 - Translation: DO's be selling-out!

"Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the policy of the American Medical Association labeled osteopathic medicine as a cult and osteopaths were seen as "cultist." The AMA code of ethics declared it unethical for a medical physician to voluntarily associate with an osteopath.[8][43]"
 
SLC said:
You completely misunderstand my whole take on this. Take a step back and re-read what I've written without any pre-conceived notion about what I must be saying as a "DO student".

Believe me, I wouldn't have matriculated into DO if I didn't "Like it".

I'm just saying that I'm not earning a doctorate in anything other than medicine at the moment.
Click to expand...

Nope...still wrong, but getting closer, making progress! Almost there!
You're earning a doctorate in nothing but osteopathic medicine.
 
So I've read that about 1 in 5 medical students are in DO schools now. Honestly, nobody in my family has ever been treated by a DO. They're always MDs. Is it just a coincidence? Just curious. I've actually been wondering this for a while.
 
CDI said:
Nope...still wrong, but getting closer, making progress! Almost there!
You're earning a doctorate in nothing but osteopathic medicine.
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Alright then, one last question (and then I'm going to let this go), what aspects of medicine exactly are contained in this supposed "Doctorate of Medicine" that I'm not earning, that are not contained in the "Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine" that I am earning?

Honest answers appreciated.

Good night fellas!
 
SLC said:
You completely misunderstand my whole take on this. Take a step back and re-read what I've written without any pre-conceived notion about what I must be saying as a "DO student".

Believe me, I wouldn't have matriculated into DO if I didn't "Like it".

I'm just saying that I'm not earning a doctorate in anything other than medicine at the moment.
Click to expand...

well homeopaths get a doctorate in "medicine" too. i mean, any method of treating people's diseases is technically "medicine"... but it's not all the same. Doctor of Medicine is pretty much reserved for allopathic medicine in our society, because that's the majority. When we hear a term we assume it's the majority unless specifically differentiated. just try this thought experiment. what kind of person pops in your mind immediately when someone says "american". Is it a minority? probably not.
 
WompyWomperton said:
So I've read that about 1 in 5 medical students are in DO schools now. Honestly, nobody in my family has ever been treated by a DO. They're always MDs. Is it just a coincidence? Just curious. I've actually been wondering this for a while.
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Well...do you live in these areas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Osteopathic_distribution_US2.PNG

(No one in my family has been treated by one either. Everyone in my familiy who is a doctor went the MBBS or MD route.)
 
What would I be doing different post-residency if I went allo/osteo vs the other? Elitist children..
 
rog411 said:
well homeopaths get a doctorate in "medicine" too. i mean, any method of treating people's diseases is technically "medicine"... but it's not all the same. Doctor of Medicine is pretty much reserved for allopathic medicine in our society, because that's the majority. When we hear a term we assume it's the majority unless specifically differentiated. just try this thought experiment. what kind of person pops in your mind immediately when someone says "american". Is it a minority? probably not.
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Barack Hussein Obama isn't a minority? 😱
 
Lysilegluleu said:
What would I be doing different post-residency if I went allo/osteo vs the other? Elitist children..
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If you went allo - you'd be hanging a Doctor of Medicine degree on your wall.

If you went osteo - you'd be a hanging a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree on your wall.
(And maybe if you're feeling generous, offering happy endings after the "maneuvers" are completed?" :naughty:
 
CDI said:
Barack Hussein Obama isn't a minority? 😱
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Not according to the minorities I talk to on a regular basis. Because if he was, then they wouldn't have any basis to various claims they love to make.
 
CDI said:
If you went allo - you'd be hanging a Doctor of Medicine degree on your wall.

If you went osteo - you'd be a hanging a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree on your wall.
(And maybe if you're feeling generous, offering happy endings after the "maneuvers" are completed?" :naughty:
Click to expand...

😀 Nice touch.
 
SLC said:
Alright then, one last question (and then I'm going to let this go), what aspects of medicine exactly are contained in this supposed "Doctorate of Medicine" that I'm not earning, that are not contained in the "Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine" that I am earning?

Honest answers appreciated.

Good night fellas!
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Nothing at all. You're able to fit more stuff into 4 years. It's kind of like magic.

Allopaths tend to be on the slower side and need to revise more of the same stuff I guess.
 
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