recommended premed major ADVICE WANTED

[jsd]

Are you thinking of a Doctor of Chiropractic? DOs are general practicion physicians and surgeons

[jgbenjamin]

Yes, these docs told me that they do NOT "cut on people."
How can a DO be a surgeon; I thought they promoted "natural" healing. What is a DO?

[jsd]

I would check your dr's credentials. DOs can be surgeons just as MDs can. Your Dr sounds like neither (granted, an MD can be a non-surgical, and therefore non cutting doctor, as well as a "natural" Dr, but... I'd be suspicious by what a MD or DO means by natural).

[rebel100]

I think your'e confusing chiropractic with DO, completely different things. What is a DO?
A DO is the equivalent of MD in every way.

Many think chiropractic is fake, and it certainly isn't what most would call a"doctor" in the traditional sense.

[bluebooger]

DO Doctors vs MD Doctors: What's the Difference?

Ed Overview

Osteopathic Specialty Colleges

Are Osteopathic Physicians Real Doctors?

[TrailRunr]

For run-of-the-mill health problems on relatively normal patients, a DO is equivalent to an MD. Medical insurance won't have a problem with DO vs. MD. They are more common in HMO systems like Kaiser (eg. cheap as heck at the expense of your health) and physician groups that seem to take lower-end insurance such as narrow network EPO/HMO Obamacare policies. I have certain family members that I cherrypick all doctors due to complex health issues. I've even hired a concierge doctor. Their doctors are 100% MD and no DO. I didn't choose their doctors specifically for MD. It just came out that way.

When a top pre-med student chooses between DO and MD, guess what they almost always pick. But a DO is fine for the average Joe.

A DC is a chiropractor. Many think the whole chiropractic area is a fraud. Your insurance might not pay for chiropractic.
An ND is a naturopathic doctor. Many think these guys are frauds as well. Your insurance won't pay for this.
I do think traditional medicine sometimes has disappointing results due to a very unhealthy amount of groupthink and the influence of big pharma.

A DDS is a dentist. Everyone needs a dentist. LOL.

That's all the Ds I can think of.

[sanantone]

Yes, these docs told me that they do NOT "cut on people."
How can a DO be a surgeon; I thought they promoted "natural" healing. What is a DO?

It looks like you have a lot of researching to do if you're going to enter the medical field. Knowing what a DO is is just as important as knowing what a nurse or physician assistant is. DOs are the equivalents of MDs just about everywhere in the United States. Their scope of practice is the same. Insurance companies treat DOs just like MDs. DOs go through the same training as MDs, except there might be a little more focus on holistic medicine and manipulation. There is really not much of a difference between how DOs and MDs practice these days. You might find more DOs who choose to practice alternative and complementary medicine, but there are also MDs who do this. A DO not performing surgeries is a choice. Most DOs choose to mostly practice in the same way as MDs and have the training and legal standing to do so.

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/doctor...vices.html

[jgbenjamin]

Should I stop calling my chiropractor doctor?

[sanantone]

Should I stop calling my chiropractor doctor?

A chiropractor is a doctor because a doctorate is required to become one, but they aren't primary care physicians in the traditional sense. They can't prescribe medication or perform surgery. They are also probably limited in what they can diagnose.

[jsd]

They're likely a Doctor of Chiropractic, not a MD or DO. They're still Doctors, just like a PhD is a doctor. Just a different type of doctor...

And I don't want a DC operating on me anymore that I want a PhD.