MD vs DO

fxh7421

Which doctor are you most likely to visit:
A physician with a MD or with a DO degree? and why?

Hacksaw

DO degree?

Feral

DO = UK osteopath.

In the US, osteopaths are medical doctors. In the UK, they're a little like chiropractors, in that some of them are scientifically-minded physical therapists trained in manual manipulation, while others are vitalist crackpots.

So, to answer the OP's question, I'd see an MD, because I'd be a bit more confident that the MD isn't insane.


Edit: looks like I'm wrong. Looks like there are DOs in the US, but the US degree is still a medical degree, whereas in the UK it's more like a doctor of chiropractic.

spool32

That's correct - in the US it's a proper medical degree. I see a DO right now, and he's pretty reluctant to prescribe medication unless you're obviously ill. I like that in a doc, and he's great with our kids, so we see him.

Joolander

both of my parent are DOs, and I'm in the US

as they tell it, the only functional difference between a DO and MD in modern times is that a DO is trained to perform manipulations.

Back when they were in medical school, the training they received was from a "holistic approach", but it should not be confused with what we call holistic medicine nowadays

basically they were to consider the effect of any treatment upon the entire body, and not just whatever system you were treating at that time (again, all of this is for the US)


so to answer the question, all other things being equal, I'd want to see a DO

but really I'm more concerned with a doctor's reputation and record since again both degrees are pretty much interchangable

Ketar

I have no preference either way. My GP is a DO, and he's great. The tiny degree of difference between the med schooling of each is insignificant, especially since they end up in the same residency and fellowship programs together.

Atomika

In the US, it's generally agreed upon that DOs provide a more holistic approach to medical care, and often are more concerned with curing the underlying causes of an illness than simply treating the symptoms.

I've worked with several DOs in my job, and at my first job a DO was the chief of medicine for the hospital. As far as I've seen, the MDs and DOs get along and work together just fine. Personally, I'd usually rather work with a DO than an MD in the ER because A) they seem more keen on doing things themselves (especially orthopedic procedures) instead of bringing in a consulting specialist, and they seem to be less apt to just throw narcotics at drug seekers just to get them out of the ER.

Paladin

I think the only people who are worried about this kind of thing are premed students

Neaden

I think the individual doctor is more important then the type of the degree, so I would just go by recommendations or what I hear about a particular practice. In the UK from the sounds of it I would steer clear of DOs though.

durandal4532

An MD, because having two degrees, one of which is sometimes basically a doctor, and sometimes absolutely not a doctor, is really dumb.

ElJeffe

This is not an appropriate thread.

Make a better OP.

Preferably: lurk more.