Why is a physiotherapist not a doctor of medicine?

Answer 1

Physical therapists can be considered as doctors. The Doctorate of Physical Therapy can now be obtained through various universities. Minimum requirements for admittance is a 4-year B.S., which can be in anything as long as all "undergraduate course requirements" are also met. These usually include 2 upper level Biology courses, 2 upper level chemistry coures, 2 upper level physics courses, and a number of psychology courses. This is usually the minimum requirements. Depending on the institution this may change slightly.

On the other hand, there are still universities that offer the masters degree in the profession. There is no longer a B.S. degree issued anywhere, however, therapists who obtained their B.S. before the cut-off are still able to practice under this degree.

You can find more information at http://www.apta.org

DMD

Answer 2

Yes ,physiotherapists are doctors,if Mbbs are doctors.why mbbs people feel so insecure about this,

infact a person who holds a doctrate degree ,in any subject is called doctors...not by holding mbbs degree,what a physio can not do...today physio can asses,dignose and treat any kind of ailments in their related subject...I ask mbbs final student what is...Osgoods knee syndrome,MND,gulleinbarry syndrome..will they be able to answer....so dont be hiporates .MD..you are medical doctor...we physiotherapy doctors.no comparision at all.

ANS#2:

A Person who holds a doctorate decree is entitled to affix "Dr." or "Doctor" with his/her name, due to his/her superior qalification, but a diploma-holder or a decree-holder of physiotherapy is not entitled to affix "Dr." or "Doctor" with his/her name.

It is not the Graduation or Diploma-Certificate of physiotherapy which gives you the right to affix "Dr." or "Doctor" with you name but your doctorate qualification.

A Physiotherapist is a technician and not a doctor. Who has completed a two years diploma course or a four years decree. No medication can be prescribed by the Physiotherapist.

Physiotherapists' use of the title 'Doctor' is clearly a "legal malpractice and is aimed at creating confusion among the general public", "Physiotherapists are also one of the para-medical personnel who work with medical specialties including orthopaedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology and paediatrics. The World Health Organisation in its 2000 report on 'Allied Health (paramedical) Services and Education Report' and in 2003 on 'Health Care Systems in Transition' listed physiotherapists with other para-medical personnel."

A Physiotherapist is a techician and is supposed to work under a doctor

A Physiotherapist affixing Dr. or Doctor with his name is a Quack and can be sued in the Court of Law in India as per the present law as it stands today. Physiotherapists are not doctors and therefore should not be allowed to prefix "Doctor" in front of their name. This is the stern warning issued by the Medical Council of India, the statutory body regulating medical colleges, affiliations, new colleges and doctors registration, after it received representations from several quarters complaining that the rule was being flouted by almost 90 per cent of the

physiotherapists working in the capital of India.

Physiotherapists cannot affix "Dr." with their name as they are technicians who follow prescription of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by them.

As per the Medical Council of India (MCI)'s stand and as per the Judgments delivered by the Courts in this regard, the Physiotherapist cannot and should not affix "Dr." With their name and if they violate this they can be punished accordingly. In defamation suit filed against a doctor by a Physiotherapist the Court has clearly mentioned that Physiotherapists are technicians who are to follow prescriptions of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy is not a medical qualification. As per the Supreme Court's Judgment passed on medical practice in India, it says that only a registered practitioner in state medical register (MCI) can practice modern system of medicine including prescription of drugs, diagnosis, blood and X-Ray investigations.

If Physiotherapists are allowed to affix "Dr." with their name then other paramedics like clinical psychologists, speech therapists, audiologists, orthotics and prosthetics shall have equal rights to affix "Dr." with their name. A Physiotherapist cannot be at par with a doctor having MBBS qualification. It is well known fact that most of the medical specialties have paramedical technical staff to assist in the health care delivery like nurses, radiographers, medical lab technicians and so on, physiotherapists are also one of the paramedical personnel who work with medical specialties like orthopaedics, physical medicine & rehabilitation, neurology, paediatrics so on.

Answer 3

Physiotherapists cannot affix "Dr." with their name as they are technicians who follow prescription of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by them.

As per the Medical Council of India (MCI)'s stand and as per the Judgments delivered by the Courts in this regard, the Physiotherapist cannot and should not affix "Dr." With their name and if they violate this they can be punished accordingly. In defamation suit filed against a doctor by a Physiotherapist the Court has clearly mentioned that Physiotherapists are technicians who are to follow prescriptions of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy is not a medical qualification. As per the Supreme Court's Judgment passed on medical practice in India, it says that only a registered practitioner in state medical register (MCI) can practice modern system of medicine including prescription of drugs, diagnosis, blood and X-Ray investigations.

Answer 4

Medical council of India (MCI)'s stand and the court judgments in this regard?

MCI in its Letter No. 211 (2) (158)/2002/Ethical dated 26/7/04 clearly says all the paramedicals including physiotherapists should not affix "Dr" with their name and if they violate this they can be punished accordingly. In a defamation suite against a medical doctor by a physiotherapist in the District court of Delhi (Civil appeal No. RCA 27/05), it is clearly mentioned that physiotherapists are technicians who follow prescription of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by the physiotherapist, the physiotherapist who put this case against a doctor also admitted that physiotherapy is not a medical qualification. There was also a case in Patna high court in which physiotherapists claimed themselves as doctors (CWJC/8444/96), the court dismissed the case.

Who are the physiotherapists?

It is well known fact that most of the medical specialties have paramedical technical staff to assist in the health care delivery like nurses, radiographers, medical lab technicians and so on, physiotherapists are also one of the paramedical personnel who work with medical specialties like orthopedics, physical medicine & rehabilitation, neurology, pediatrics so on. World Health organization in its 2000 report on Allied health (paramedical) services and Education report and in 2003 on Health care systems in transition also listed physiotherapists with other paramedical personnel. In our country also there are diploma and degree courses awarded by various institutions in physiotherapy after 12th pass just like any other paramedical courses like nursing, dieticians, radiography, speech therapy, medical lab technology. Earlier physiotherapists used to register in rehabilitation council of India (RCI) along with other paramedics like clinical psychologists, speech therapists, audiologists, orthotists and prosthetists. After physiotherapists declined to register at RCI, the RCI has started a 4 years course in bachelor in rehabilitation therapy, which is similar to physiotherapy in its content, course duration and even in patient care.

A Physiotherapist affixing Dr. or Doctor with his name is a Quack and can be sued in the Court of Law. Physiotherapists are not doctors and therefore should not be allowed to prefix "Doctor" in front of their name. This is the stern warning issued by the Medical Council of India, the statutory body regulating medical colleges, affiliations, new colleges and doctors registration, after it received representations from several quarters complaining that the rule was being flouted by almost 90 per cent of the

physiotherapists working in the capital of India.

Physiotherapists cannot affix "Dr." with their name as they are technicians who follow prescription of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by them.

As per the Medical Council of India (MCI)'s stand and as per the Judgments delivered by the Courts in this regard, the Physiotherapist cannot and should not affix "Dr." With their name and if they violate this they can be punished accordingly. In defamation suit filed against a doctor by a Physiotherapist the Court has clearly mentioned that Physiotherapists are technicians who are to follow prescriptions of doctors and no medication can be prescribed by the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy is not a medical qualification. As per the Supreme Court's Judgment passed on medical practice in India, it says that only a registered practitioner in state medical register (MCI) can practice modern system of medicine including prescription of drugs, diagnosis, blood and X-Ray investigations.

If Physiotherapists are allowed to affix "Dr." with their name then other paramedics like clinical psychologists, speech therapists, audiologists, orthotics and prosthetics shall have equal rights to affix "Dr." with their name. A Physiotherapist cannot be at par with a doctor having MBBS qualification. It is well known fact that most of the medical specialties have paramedical technical staff to assist in the health care delivery like nurses, radiographers, medical lab technicians and so on, physiotherapists are also one of the paramedical personnel who work with medical specialties like orthopaedics, physical medicine & rehabilitation, neurology, paediatrics so on.

As per the verdicts passed by Honourable Courts in India, one builds up an opinion that the act of the Physiotherapist by affixing "Dr." or "Doctor" with his name amounts to cheating, hence criminal proceedings can be initiated against him.

Answer 5

It is not necessary to use Dr prefix for a physiotherapist to treat his patients or to treat other Dr reference patient. Since some other professionals are not allowing the public to have a necessary physiotherapy treatments at correct time, in India this argument is going on. As there is strong obstructions given by some professionals against Physiotherapy. Physiotherapists are warning those persons, not to interfere with there professional ethic's. Reply If he has a Ph.D., then yes. Otherwise, no. Personally, I consider it misleading when people who are not medical doctors call themselves "doctor" in a health care setting even if they have earned a Ph.D. and so otherwise have the right to the title.
In India it is illegal to prefix Dr. before the name of a physiotherapist. Still a lot of such persons do so shamelessly. It is plain hoodwinking of poor patients.

Physios should be proud of their profession like they do in UK and USA where they are knowledgeable and earn a lot of respect without calling themselves Drs.

Answer 6

Usually, a physiotherapist is a technician (not a doctor of medicine) who has completed a two years diploma course or a four years decree. No medication can be prescribed by the Physiotherapist. (Unless, of course, they have also qualified as a doctor of orthodox medicine.)

Physiotherapists' use of the title 'Doctor' was clearly a "legal malpractice and is aimed at creating confusion among the general public", "Physiotherapists are also one of the para-medical personnel who work with medical specialties including orthopaedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology and paediatrics. The World Health Organisation in its 2000 report on 'Allied Health (paramedical) Services and Education Report' and in 2003 on 'Health Care Systems in Transition' listed physiotherapistswith other para-medical personnel."

Answer 7

YES, Physiotherapists are allowed to use Dr prefix. There is no objections for this.

This was announced by IACP INDIAN ASSOCIAN OF PHYSIOTHERAPY. The same was published on 18 Augest 2011 THE HINDU - New Delhi.

Every clinical health professional writes Dr. before their name as a matter of tradition and convention and no one is allowed to write Dr. before their name if she or he is having no Ph.D. or M.D. as a matter of right.''

IAP general secretary Dr. Sanjiv Kumar Jha (P.T.) said: "Physiotherapists prefixes Dr. as per the resolution of IAP, we have also warned IMA and MCI for defaming the physiotherapists as they have no statutory power to regulate physiotherapy profession in India, hence no right to publish wrong information about physiotherapy as a whole.

Physiotherapists are giving treatment by physical means and they never prescribe any drugs,'' he added.

Answer 8

yes