Life Science Encyclopedia

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level first professional degree for physicians and surgeons, usually requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of the similar, but more common M.D. degree are known as allopathic physicians. The existence of this distinction and of D.O.s as licensed physicians is not widely known.^[1]

Although U. S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differs. D.O.s outside the U. S. are known as "osteopaths" and their scope of practice excludes allopathic medical therapies and relies more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine and other alternative medical modalities.

See also: Osteopathic medicine (U.S.) and Comparison of M.D. and D.O.

International variations in the D.O. degree

In the United States, D.O.s are "doctors of osteopathic medicine" who are trained as physicians.

Main article: Osteopathic medicine in the United States

In France, Germany,and Switzerland, some osteopathic practitioners are M.D.s who take additional courses in osteopathy after completing their medical training. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, “osteopaths" are trained in osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment but are not physicians.

According to the BIOMEA, in most countries outside the United States, D.O. stands for “diploma of osteopathy,” not “doctor of osteopathic medicine.” The difference is that osteopaths are not trained or licensed as physicians, and therefore do not carry the same practice rights, such as surgery and prescribing medication. However, osteopaths in some countries do act as primary care providers, coordinating treatment with fully licensed primary care physicians.^[2]

Current status and scope of practice

While there are approximately 55,000 D.O.s practicing within the United States, this number represents only 6% of all practicing physicians. D.O.'s may obtain licensure in any of the fifty states and practice in all medical specialties including, but not limited to, family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, dermatology, surgery, and radiology. The D.O. degree is the legal and professional equivalent of the M.D. degree and as such there is no difference in compensation between allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

International practice rights

Every country has different requirements and a different way of licensing or registering osteopathic physicians and osteopaths. The only osteopathic practitioners that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as physicians are graduates of osteopathic medical colleges in the United States.^[3] Therefore, osteopaths who have trained outside the United States are not eligible for medical licensure in the United States. On the other hand, US-trained D.O.s are currently able to practice in 45 countries with full medical rights and in several others with restricted rights.

The following is a table of International Practice Rights of U.S trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, as listed by the American Osteopathic Association.^[4]

References

See also

• List of Osteopathic Medical Schools