In your Opinion, Should a Chiropractor Call Themselves a Physician? In the Phone Book they Are.?

Question

madeulo0k, Really? Probably Not.

Pangolin, Ever Heard Quackerpacter?

Answer 1

Absolutely not. Unless they choose to go to medical school.

I can think of some other names for them....

Answer 2

Chiropractors are listed under Chiropractors. If you're looking for a physician, then look for an Orthopaedist--they are very, very knowledgable.

And no, I don't agree that Chiropractors should call themselves a physician b/c they didn't go to medical school and they didn't receive a well-rounded education concerning other components of the body. Doctors have more knowledge on how to treat and fix a certain problem. I will always stick to finding a physician...other "doctors" can be avoided except dentists and eye doctors (for minor problems).

Answer 3

No, they should not be called Physician. It takes many years of training and education to become a physician and no matter how much one thinks that a Chiropractor knows, it is nowhere near the depth of knowledge that a physician has, and more importantly the ability to utilize that knowledge.
Of course in the UK system, then only a board-certified internist could call themselves a physician.

Answer 4

A physician is a person who practices human biological medicine.

In the United States, the term physician is commonly used to describe all medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors and naturopaths.

So it really depends on where you are as to what term is appropriate. There is no law governing the use of Physician.

Answer 5

As a chiropractic student, I'd like to address a different perspective here. It's a bummer that you haven't paid much attention to the chiropractic profession because you would learn so much about why so many patients rave about their success with chiropractic care. Anyways. I am finishing my first year of chiropractic school and believe me when I say that my colleagues and I have tremendous respect for everyone in the healthcare field - MDs, DOs, PTs, RNs...they are all extremely valuable in whole patient care. You seem to have the "ability to prescribe" confused with "being a primary care provider." The one is not a prerequisite to the other. We choose not to prescribe drugs. We only take a pharm class so that we are able to better understand what is occuring with the biochemistry of our medicated patients. We have no interest in prescribing drugs. We DO, however, recognize the importance of medical care. We just know that we aren't the ones who wish to provide it. Our philosophy is simple. The body is designed to be self-regulating and to adapt to its internal and external environments. The only way you can adapt to something is if you have sensory input that alerts you to the fact that there is something to adapt to. The nervous system is the master system that regulates the sensation and the adaptation. The brain is the controller of the nervous system. The brain is nourished by feedback it receives from the joints. When joint motion is altered, nervous system function is altered. When nervous system function is altered, body function is altered. This may or may not manifest as symptoms, however many of the symptoms experienced by patients is the result of this altered nervous system function. Well, after logically putting these known scientific premises together, we choose to treat the cause of the altered nervous system function rather than the effect. We recognize the place of chiropractic care and the place of medical care. Medical care is EXCELLENT at trauma/crisis. Lives are saved every single day thanks to countless dedicated individuals who spend their lives stitching people back together. If I got in an accident and my leg ended up 3 lanes across the highway from my body, I would want to go to the ER first, no doubt about it. Chiropractic care is care that helps the body maintain itself in the day to day functionings required of it. If I want to strengthen my immune system, improve my digestion, and increase my sports performance, there is nothing in any doctor's needle or scalpel that is any better than what is already in my body. I will go to my chiropractor to keep my master system in tip top shape. So, that was a very lengthy answer to your question and I hope some people are better informed now. Prescribing ability does not equal primary care provider and primary care provider does not equal prescribing ability. You brought up a great point and one that more people should be educating themselves on. I'm so glad to see that you are open to asking these questions and making yourself educated on these matters.

Answer 6

Chiropractic is just legalized quackery. Its been around so long that it has just been 'grandfathered' in to the physicians arts. If it was a new regimen that was being evaluated by the AMA, or the government, it would be rejected outright. It might feel good to have your back manipulated after a hard game of racquetball, but that's about the extent of the benefit. I know a few of them, and know those that have gone to them. They kind of work hand in hand with the ambulance chasing lawyers to provide treatments when a real medical doctor doesn't see any problem that requires treatment.

Answer 7

Could it be that chiropractors and personal-injury
lawyers form a cottage industry tapping into money-stream
from insurance companies?


1 : a person skilled in the art of healing; specifically : one educated, clinically experienced, and licensed to practice medicine as usually distinguished from surgery


(that's from )


Chiropractors make money ... but they don't use
"medicine". (maybe my ignorance is showing)

Could you imagine the TV show "House" where
House is chiropractor?

the "should" word implies a value-judgement.

I don't consider chiropractors to be "physicians".

Answer 8

I know a chiropractor, and he knows just as much as a regular doctor.

Answer 9

No they are listed under Chiropractors.BUT I'd like to add that they have really helped me in the past !!

Answer 10

No.