Valid Error or DO Stigma in Newsweeks Article

[ed gee]

http://www.do-online.osteotech.org/blog/index.php?itemid=1559

That guy on the magazine cover...there is no way he is a D.O. The COVER of the magazine says "Hero M.D.", thats ironic.
By the way, I just came out of a carib vs D.O. struggle myself, see "deciding pathway" in St. George's forum. I came to a conclusion that a D.O. will have a better chance at competitive residencies than a foreign grad and decided to pursue that direction. It was a very very hard choice but I know that people who have the choice are at least lucky they HAVE a choice, and the good thing is...no matter what you choose, a wrong decision is unlikely.

[Gforce007]

Just wondering thoughts on a War Hero named "MD hero" when he is really a DO. I happen to cross it somewhere and wanted som SGU feedback. Some may have already read this

http://www.do-online.osteotech.org/blog/index.php?itemid=1559

[db3cool]

It was really interesting to see the link on the "Hero MD". I read the whole article, and I feel that it was intentionally hidden that he was a D.O. Nowhere in the whole article did it state what school he finished, let alone his initials. Obviously the writers were informed of his biography. In fact, they associated him with some medical school in Georgia, which is an MD school.

[Scott1981]

you will notice on many hospital websites listing their residents. it will say JOHN DOE MD, graduate of anyname school of osteopathic medicine. i think there is a concealment in these cases.

[stephew]

It was really interesting to see the link on the "Hero MD". I read the whole article, and I feel that it was intentionally hidden that he was a D.O. Nowhere in the whole article did it state what school he finished, let alone his initials. Obviously the writers were informed of his biography. In fact, they associated him with some medical school in Georgia, which is an MD school.Unfortunately, with the DO stigma comes the Oh, Canada syndome; as much as their is appropriate pride, folks spending a lot of time thinking that others are thinking about your identity as much as you are. I seriously doubt this was "intentional". My guess is that the editors either didnt get that it was incorrect to put MD on the cover or just figured the short hand worked for their purposes. It would be nice for DOs to have this fact highlighted more, just like IMGs like it when an IMG is celebrated. But to say it was part of an agenda?
Feel free to disagree with me if you do, but kindly keep it within TOS.

[stephew]

you will notice on many hospital websites listing their residents. it will say JOHN DOE MD, graduate of anyname school of osteopathic medicine. i think there is a concealment in these cases.possible but probably just in error most of the time. It would be very illegal to deliberately mislead.

[The Trifling Jester]

you will notice on many hospital websites listing their residents. it will say JOHN DOE MD, graduate of anyname school of osteopathic medicine. i think there is a concealment in these cases.How deceitful! As I understand it, the doctor should be listed:
JOHN DOE MD-with-a-little-something-extra.

Or so I've been told...
The Trifling Jester

[Scott1981]

possible but probably just in error most of the time. It would be very illegal to deliberately mislead.

i agree with you on the part of newsweek. the editor is not familiar with the difference.

however, the hospitals have a lot more knowledge of the subject. they shouldnt have "made" that mistake. secondly, if you are a resident of that hospital, arent you gonna check out that website to see your picture on it to see how you look? why arent they immedietely going to the IT department to change it.

lastly, one of my local hospitals on the coast of florida has a big RN on the badges of nurses. they have LPN on lpns. when it comes to docs, they have a giant MD on the badge. the problem with this is that they put MD on 2 DOs badges. i questioned it and they said that it eliminates confusion.


example: http://www.floridahospitalresidency.com/pages/mainframe7.htm
look at the first year residents. this is a hospital that is also affiliated with a DO residency program under their umbrella at another hospital. there should be more than enough knowledge on this subject there. is she content with the MD next to her name?

[stephew]

i agree they shouldnt make that mistake. but remember, sometimes secretaries do these websites. people who may not even know there is a difference.

[oskie94]

Apparently, the editors of Newsweek admitted their mistake:

Correction

On our March 20 cover, we referred to Dr. [edited for names], the brave military physician who saved dozens of lives during the battle for Fallujah, as "Hero M.D." Dr. Jadick is in fact a D.O., or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic medicine takes a holistic approach to medical care, emphasizing prevention and focusing on the body's musculoskeletal system. Like M.D.s, D.O.s are fully qualified physicians licensed to work in every aspect of medicine, and the U.S. military makes no distinction between the two medical degrees when hiring. There are currently about 56,000 osteopathic physicians working in the United States, many of them as primary-care physicians. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.

You can read more about osteopathic doctors at

http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11902674/site/newsweek/page/2/

[stephew]

see? No big conspiracy.

[Scott1981]

i agree they shouldnt make that mistake. but remember, sometimes secretaries do these websites. people who may not even know there is a difference.

the question is...... why doesnt the resident in question contact the IT department to change it immedietely?

you cant honestly say that the new pgy 1 resident didnt check out the website to see how she looked. surely she noticed the "MD."

[Gforce007]

see? No big conspiracy.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11784573/site/newsweek/

radio interview with the DO. plus even though they have an appended correction. It still says Hero MD

[pstone09]

i agree with you on the part of newsweek. the editor is not familiar with the difference.

however, the hospitals have a lot more knowledge of the subject. they shouldnt have "made" that mistake. secondly, if you are a resident of that hospital, arent you gonna check out that website to see your picture on it to see how you look? why arent they immedietely going to the IT department to change it.

lastly, one of my local hospitals on the coast of florida has a big RN on the badges of nurses. they have LPN on lpns. when it comes to docs, they have a giant MD on the badge. the problem with this is that they put MD on 2 DOs badges. i questioned it and they said that it eliminates confusion.


example: http://www.floridahospitalresidency.com/pages/mainframe7.htm
look at the first year residents. this is a hospital that is also affiliated with a DO residency program under their umbrella at another hospital. there should be more than enough knowledge on this subject there. is she content with the MD next to her name?

on the link scott posted is a resident named . his dad is my pre-medical advisor in texas. really great professor...