Answer #1

In the field of medicine, MD stands for Medical Doctor while OD stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Between the two, most people are familiar with the title of MD linked after their physician or family doctor’s name but in actuality, the nature of their work is just the same. Both OD and MD are trained professionals; they undergo four-year pre-med or science related undergraduate courses; completed another four years of training before taking licensure exam; may also then choose their specialized field and study for another 2 to 6 more years by which entitles him/her to take another licensure exam depending on one’s field of specialization.

The distinction between MD and OD is mainly grounded by the manner on how the two medical experts diagnose their patients and the way each medical professions treat a patient’s illness.

As compared to MD, OD receives additional training or study in the fields of skeletal and muscular system including the proper manipulation of both body systems in order to treat a disease. A DO evaluates its patient’s health by considering the whole body as an intricate connected network. DO believes that any sickness influence the body as a whole. In contrast, an MD evaluates its patient’s illness in accordance with the part of the body that is only affected.

While most of MDs are more inclined to advancing their knowledge and skills through specialization, DOs are more focused in training for preventive care and cautiously assessing a person’s health and health needs in totality. Nevertheless, a DO is as capable and as reliable in prescribing medications and in treating a person’s disease the way an MD does.

DO is also different from an MD in a way that the former is open to alternative methods in treating diseases. DO uses osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) which is applied by means of manipulating the spine area or plainly lay hands, or “feeling/touching” the body, in creating a diagnosis. This particular method used by OD takes more time as compared to the standard methods applied by an MD in doing their own version of diagnostic procedure.

Answered By: khristine [216 ]