physios want to be called "doctors"

[joeatgracevilla]

hey friends out there. is there any justification as to why a physio should be called a doctor. i believe that "doctor" applies only to PhD holders from the university. Cause i find that people get obssesed with the term and use it for social status rather than professional use. any comments.

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[deeptibajaj]

hi
dont physios treat patients?...dont we toil hard to study every single anatomical detail of human body just like the md docs?why the hell then we be considered lesser doctors...or no doctors?i agree thr is a social status attached with the term doc and i would definately be liked to be called Dr Deepti...

[deeptibajaj]

hi
dont physios treat patients?...dont we toil hard to study every single anatomical detail of human body just like the md docs?why the hell then we be considered lesser doctors...or no doctors?i agree thr is a social status attached with the term doc and i would definately be liked to be called Dr Deepti...

[noha]

hi i agree with you that the one who should called doctor who only have a phd but if it is a traditional habit that we call the md graduate doctor so i think that we are not less than them also the doctor who is treating patient aren't you? i think it is something very fair to be called a doctor

[austeirin]

just as what the others said, anyone who finished a doctoral degree,say MD or PhD have the right to be called a DOCTOR. We PT's have the right, if we specialize further and deep to be called a Physiatrist...then that is the time youll get your title <Doctor>. It takes a lot of courage and couple of years burning your brows again. Those who insist, without thinking that they dont fit in,are should I say..obssesed to become 1..and end end up paranoid.

[physioceccus]

However.
"Doctor" from a latin word meaning "he who is able to teach". From the first University in the world (Bologna- Italy) this title competes to those who obtain the Laurea (another latin word meaning "he who brings bay-tree (laureum)", a special ancient crown, in Ancient Greek culture meaning wisdom.
So, in Italy, you can have this title only if you are "laureato" (gratuated). You can be a Doctor in Science, or in Literature, or in Medicine...
PT in Italy are only graduated, so you can call yourself "Doctor" legally, according a decree (1938 a.C.)
Really a PT is able to "teach" rehabilitation to anyone, as a shoemaker is able to teach everyone to make shoes.
So I think is a good perfect legal and honest thing calling "Doctor" a PT.
Jesus is the perfect Doctor even if He had no graduated title. Doctor or not a PT is calling to follow Him giving health to people who is disable. Isn't it?
Thanks
Francesco

[Physio_Plus]

we physiotherapists diagnose, treat and recover the patients from ailments
then why don't we were called doctors: is it just because we never prescribe medicines, or we do not perform surgeries. In India layman could recognize as only doctors, he can't differentiate as from them. so PT's who do private practice in India declare themselves as doctors, so that a layman can find his way to him. but the doctors in India oppose this , what's the solution for this ?

[pdoan01]

just as what the others said, anyone who finished a doctoral degree,say MD or PhD have the right to be called a DOCTOR. We PT's have the right, if we specialize further and deep to be called a Physiatrist...then that is the time youll get your title <doctor>. It takes a lot of courage and couple of years burning your brows again. Those who insist, without thinking that they dont fit in,are should I say..obssesed to become 1..and end end up paranoid.

only physicians can specialise not PTs. PTs are just physical therapists that is all nothing more, anything more you guys just want more glory when you are not appropiatly trained for </doctor>

[oabny001]

only physicians can specialise not PTs. PTs are just physical therapists that is all nothing more, anything more you guys just want more glory when you are not appropiatly trained for

For someone living in Aussie to say this is an understatement!!unfortunately the reality is that PT's can specialise,there are so many areas of speciality in PT!paeds,neurology,women's health, MSP,sports etc the list is endless.
In Botswana where i am currently working pts do call us Dr because there is no Setswana name meaning physio!!but i wouldn't want to be called a Dr until i have earned the title!!!

[pdoan01]

For someone living in Aussie to say this is an understatement!!unfortunately the reality is that PT's can specialise,there are so many areas of speciality in PT!paeds,neurology,women's health, MSP,sports etc the list is endless.In Botswana where i am currently working pts do call us Dr because there is no Setswana name meaning physio!!but i wouldn't want to be called a Dr until i have earned the title!!!

Actually mate a physio cannot specialize in australia nor in the united states due to the fact that what you have stated are actually areas of "practice" not specialties unlike in podiatric medicine you can specialIse in surger, podo-paediatrics, sports podiatry, diabetes, and neuro/vascular. Therefore physio are "therapists" and are part of secondary care unlike physicians and podiatrists and thus physics are not entitled to the title doctor . In Australia there are only three mainstream users of the doctor title that is medicos, dentist and podiatrists

[dinosaur1]

Legally in UK, you cannot portray yourself to be a medical doctor unless you have completed a medical degree and are a member of the GMC. Even if you have done a PHD in any subject you cannot call yourseld a doctor of medicine, i.e not DR. If you have a PHD you could use the title DR after your name, but it would need to be clear that you were not portraying yourself to be a medical doctor.

Physiotherapist is a protected title. It also represents what we do, and you should be proud of that and not aspire to use the title of a different profession. there is no reason why a physiotherapist should wish to be called DR. and if you do then you should consider retraining to be a DR.

[Fyzzio]

... unless you are a Physio with a PhD !

[dinosaur1]

The law may be different in others countries but in the uk even if you are a physio with a phd you cannot refer to yourself as doctor clinically, academically it's fine but in regards to your patients and other hospital staff you would need to make it explicitly clear that you are not a medical doctor and not a member of the GMC. You would use your doctorate title in the context of academic writing and further research though.

Having completed a physio phd makes you a doctor ie a specialist in a particular area of physiotherapy because of the research you have done, it does not make you a medical doctor therefore you would be mis-representing your role if patients called you Dr so and so... And would be breaking the law. Most physios here introduce themselves by their first name anyway and remain on those terms with their patients do I don't know of any cases where physios have been tempted to use the title.

The laws are very clear in the uk.

[alin120188]

Doctor or non-doctor, it's just a nam they call you. the important thing is what you do, what you think about and which position you are in their thought.
For the Vietnamese, in the first time, they just call us as a person who did the massage. But day after day, they will respect you and know clearly who we are. What do you think about when you go out and your patient see you and say that: he(she) is a physiotherapist who help me recover? Do you proud of that?
So, there are no reason why you changed your name about this.

---------- Post added at 11:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------

perfect, your knowledge is wide and deep.

[richa ojha]

If we are just bachelors in physiotherapy definitely we wont be having a deep knowledge in all the subjects as all the medical doctors have...... so it is very necessary to undergo PhD n deep into the subject to be called doctors..... n ya its a tough thing too...

[graham09]

There is no reason to call ourselves doctors and If you want to be happy to see Dr. before your name, you should have chosen that field only. We all should proud of ourselves to be a Physio.