Why are doctors also called Physicians?

Answer 1

"The word physician shares a common etymology with words such as physics & metaphysics, physical, physique, and physiognomy.

The Classical Greek noun phusis and derived adjective phusikos meant "nature" and "natural". From this, amongst other derivatives came the Late Latin physicus, which meant a doctor of medicine. After the Norman Conquest, the word entered Middle English via Old French fisicien, as early as 1200. Originally, physician meant a practitioner of physic (pronounced with a hard C). This archaic noun had entered Middle English by 1300 (via Old French fisique). The noun physic meant the art or science of treatment with drugs or medications (as opposed to surgery), and was later used both as a verb and also to describe the medications themselves."

Answer 2

My guess is that "doctor" is a little too generic. ANYONE with a doctorate can properly be referred to as "doctor" - thus a dentist, lawyer (Juris Doctor or Doctor of Laws), virtually any college professor (that holds a PhD) - can all be called doctor. Only a Medical Doctor (MD or DO) is referred to as a "physician"....it is not ambiguous and doesn't allow for misunderstanding. When speaking to one - of course, you would say Dr. Jones, but you might say that Dr. Jones is my physician.

Answer 3

Physician is the correct professional name.

Doctor is a nick name for the job.

Doctorate degree, is the third, university degree, PH.D. which you get after finishing a B.S., and an M.S. Around the world the first degree in medicine is B.M. (Bachelor of Medicine). Only in the US, they give doctorate degree (MD = doctor of medicine) as the first degree in medicine.

Confusing !

Answer 4

X.L. has a good explanation, but another meaning of "physic" is a cathartic or a laxative. From medieval times to late nineteenth century there were few effective remedies, except for laxatives and emetics. So it was a "physician" who prescribed or administered a "physic."

Answer 5

a doctor only refers to the fact that they have their doctorate degree or PHD from a collage. like how a lawyer or a psycologist are both doctors. but a physician is a doctor of medicine. even though in our culture doctor generaly referes to a medical doctor.

Answer 6

Comes from Middle English word fisicien, Old French fisique meaning "body".

Answer 7

Those are doctors practicing on the physical body as well as internally.

Answer 8

there are 2 kinds of doctors....Phsyciatrist & Physical. The first one means mental. The 2nd one is for body meanings rather then mind.