Why...?

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nrut88 said:
Why is it that older people dislike DO's? Was it something that happened a while back???

Well, one point is that nobody likes competition. Another point to make is that you have to remember that A.T. Still was an M.D. who believed that traditional Western medicine was in need of improvement. I think M.D.s became offended by this leading to the DO vs MD thing. I guess I would become defensive too if my profession was being criticized and threatened. Osteopathic medicine hadn't been around as long when the older docs were in their training--because of this, I suspect that they would have more "issues" than their younger couterparts.
 
nrut88 said:
Why is it that older people dislike DO's? Was it something that happened a while back???


During my hospice work I talked to one elderly woman who thought it was great I was going to be a doc, etc. until I mentioned DO. Her dislike of DOs stemmed from the fact that her father was an MD, who like most MDs in the 1940's, was sent sent overseas during the war. DOs at that point were not allowed to serve as docs in the military and so ended up providing lots of care on the homefront. After the war, many patients stuck with the DOs, creating some bad blood with MDs who arrived home to find their patients gone. This is mentioned in some of the DO history books, but I don't really know how significant a trend this was.
 
bodymechanic said:
During my hospice work I talked to one elderly woman who thought it was great I was going to be a doc, etc. until I mentioned DO. Her dislike of DOs stemmed from the fact that her father was an MD, who like most MDs in the 1940's, was sent sent overseas during the war. DOs at that point were not allowed to serve as docs in the military and so ended up providing lots of care on the homefront. After the war, many patients stuck with the DOs, creating some bad blood with MDs who arrived home to find their patients gone. This is mentioned in some of the DO history books, but I don't really know how significant a trend this was.

I think location and exposure has something to do with it too. Here in GA/SC area they don't like DO's that much, if they've even heard of them. I've heard from the older docs "instead of DO have you thought about the island MD schools." LOL...DO, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!
 
I have found completely the opposite of most of you posting here. I have heard from many older adults that prefer DO's. They all have said that DO's are more willing to listen to them and are more personable and that they spend a significant amount more time with them than any other physician. This, however, is in the Midwest.
 
nrut88 said:
Why is it that older people dislike DO's? Was it something that happened a while back???

My grandparents go to a DO and dislike MDs.

You can find any individual that dislikes anything.
 
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