physician for internal medicine?

[keannu]

When you say "physician", does it mean a general doctor or sometimes "internal medicine doctor"? It seems to mean the former mostly,but the latter as well as opposed to "surgeon". I'd like to know the American ear for "physician".

[SoothingDave]

Physician - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the United States and Canada, the term physician usually describes all medical practitioners holding the degrees of Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

Any doctor is a physician, not just a specialist in internal medicine.

[keannu]

Physician - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Any doctor is a physician, not just a specialist in internal medicine.

Then, why does a dictionary define "physician= internal medicine doctor"?
Is it only a dictionary meaning, not an actual one?

[SoothingDave]

Did you read the Wikipedia link?

Physician is still widely used in its older, more narrow sense, especially outside North America. In this usage, a physician is a specialist in internal medicine or one of its many sub-specialties (especially as opposed to a specialist in surgery). This traditional meaning of physician conveys a sense of expertise in treatment by drugs or medications, rather than by the procedures of surgeons.[5]

If your dictionary is not made for American English, then it will not have the American definition.

[keannu]

Did you read the Wikipedia link?



If your dictionary is not made for American English, then it will not have the American definition.

Thank you, then what do you normally call "a doctor for internal medicine" in America? "internal medicine doctor" or "internal medicine specialist"?

[riquecohen]

Thank you, then what do you normally call "a doctor for internal medicine" in America? "internal medicine doctor" or "internal medicine specialist"?

An internist.

[Ouisch]

In the US, the medical industry has become all about specialities in the past 20 years. Plastic surgeons earn more money than pediatricians, who earn more than general practitioners. Any person who has earned a medical degree and has completed the necessary on-the-job training (residency) and has been appropriately licensed in the US is called a "physician." Personally, because I suffer from Lupus, my primary care doctor is my rheumatologist. However, he is also an internist, so luckily he is able to diagnose and treat my non-Lupus complaints. Anyone with the proper degree(s) and credentials is called doctor, but a podiatrist wouldn't be the proper physician to diagnose and treat your diabetes or lung cancer. That's why it's very common for physicians to refer to themselves by their specialty; instead of simply saying "I'm a doctor" they'd specify "I'm an oncologist" or "I'm an orthopedist."

In the US, every surgeon is a doctor, but not every doctor is a surgeon. A surgeon has had specialized training and actually cuts into the human body and performs invasive procedures.

[5jj]

In the US, the medical industry has become all aboutspecialities in the past 20 years.

I thought that the AmE version of speciality/ies did not have the i. Did you make a typo, or am I wrong?

[Ouisch]

I thought that the AmE version of speciality/ies did not have the i. Did you make a typo, or am I wrong?

You are correct, it was a typo. We don't add the extra "i" in specialties in AmE.

[5jj]

You are correct, it was a typo. We don't add the extra "i" in specialties in AmE.

Damn! I thought you lot might be learning at last.