The ACEP Board of Directors met Feb. 5–6, 2020, and approved several policy statements and initiatives. To support emergency physicians in their practice, the Board strengthened a policy statement about the use of the title “doctor” in the clinical setting. “ACEP strongly opposes the use of the term ‘doctor’ by other professionals in the clinical setting, including those with independent practice, where there is strong potential to mislead patients into perceiving they are being treated by a physician.”
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ACEP Now: Vol 39 – No 03 – March 2020A new policy statement “Use of Antitussive Medications in the Pediatric Population” was approved, as were the following revised policy statements:
- 9-1-1 Caller Good Samaritan Laws
- ACEP Recognized Certifying Bodies in Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Guidelines Affecting Emergency Medicine Practice
- Emergency Medicine Telemedicine
- Recognition of Subspecialty Boards in Emergency Medicine
- Human Trafficking
- Physician Impairment
- Retail-Based Clinics
- Support for Nursing Mothers
- Use of Patient Restraints
View the policy statements.
One Response to “ACEP Board Addresses “Doctor” Title and More”
March 23, 2020
Robert Bostic, PA-CVery much agree that the use of the title of Doctor in ANY clinical setting is misleading and should never be used in a clinical Setting by anyone but a MD or DO.
In this era of independent practice push for mid level providers, it is imperative, that patients understand who is treating them and what there level of supervision is. If you use the title of “Doctor” it is assumed by the general population that you have a medical degree, not a higher level of educations at the doctorate level in some aspect of health care.
As a 20+ year Physician Assistance, I am very strict about how I introduce myself and how I let patient address me, which is sometimes very difficult, because of the military presence where I work and that many of my patient, who knew me when I was a hospital corpsman, want to address me as DOC, a title I earned as a submarine independent corpsman, but is not appropriate for me to use as a physician assistance. I feel this is true for all PA-C’s.
ACEP should aggressively protect the title of Doctor and should approach state legislators about restricting the title to physicians only outside the educational environment unless there is no doubt what the users status is, ie A doctor of religion in the pulpit.