Podiatrist vs. Orthopedic Surgeon animation.

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netizens


An interesting set of animations on youtube which I pass on in good faith.



High quality production


toeslayer

 

Is it time to point the finger in the other direction, ie at medicine, and ask, "why does someone have to have a medical degree to do surgery?"

Is it not a waste of time and money to train someone in medicine before training them in surgery?

Should the current medical training model be dismantled, reconsidered and reconstructed in a way that is genuinely best for the patient and not for the medical profession?

Is medicine's increasing power counterproductive with respect to best patient care?

 

The Hippocratic Oath is to do no harm. To do no harm is to have a knowledge base that is as wide as deep. You can never know too much and you are always a student as well as a teacher. To that end, it is imperative to have a medical degree to have a keen understanding of the workings of the human body on all levels. This knowledge serves to work up the patient and make the appropriate pre-op and post-op decisions that are critical to the recovery of the patient.

In the USA, we are not MDs, but we are DPMs and we will always be outsiders as we are not in the MD family (especially the Orthopedic surgeon family). However, our respect from the Medical profession has substantially increased over the years as we have earned it with hard work. We are active on hospital staffs, in the operating rooms and receive increasing referrals from MDs. In the USA, our education and training mirrors MDs now that graduates of the 4 year Podiatric Medical School require three years of residency.

Wisdom is the application of knowledge, and the more knowledge surgeons have in all areas of medical science, the more the patient benefits and that is the end game.

Steven

 

With respect, this is not a matter of knowledge, or wisdom, or any other relevant surgical matter. It is a matter of territorialism.

In the UK, Podiatric Surgeons have gained and enjoyed Consultant status for many years - this means operating in NHS and private hospitals, running their own 'firms' etc. etc. Crucially, it also means receiving direct referrals from General Medical Practitioners (it would not be possible to be a Consultant without) but still the Orthopods demonstrate the attitudes exemplified in the animation. I am perfectly willing to bet a fiver ($7.50) that this will still be the case in 25 years, and double or quits that it will be the same in the USA as in the UK (or anywhere else).

All the best

Bill Liggins

 

Thanks for the clarification, Bill.

I understand and also agree with your comments. The MD is the gold standard degree and with it you are always flowing with the current unlike the DPM degree.

In the USA, we have made large strides in gaining respect and acceptance of our profession but without an MD degree, we will not be equal in their eyes. Here in southeast Florida, we have managed care insurance plans (lot of retired folks) and they reimburse the Othopedic doctors 40 to 50% more than Podiatrists for the same surgical procedures. Luckily, it is not that way in most areas of the USA as getting paid $215 for an Austin is not financially rewarding.

Still, even if every Podiatrist was extremely competent, it would not make a difference to the Orthopedists as we will be seen unequal to their standards and remain a competitor to those that specialize in foot and ankle surgery.

Steven