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Fidem
Guest
I would like to know if there is something intrinsically wrong or anti-catholic with osteopathy.
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27lw
Guest
Osteopaths are real doctors, unlike, for instance, chiropractors.
Nothing anti-Catholic about osteopaths.
Nothing anti-Catholic about osteopaths.
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
There better not be - my doctor is a D.O.
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Irishmom2
Guest
It’s fine. Why would you think it wouldn’t be allowed? 
There is nothing whatsoever wrong with osteopathic medicine. It originated from a dodgy theory about disease and illness being caused by misalignment of joints and muscles (or something like that, I’m sure I’m oversimplifying), something akin to chiropractic. Modern-day osteopathic medicine has evolved into basically the same thing as allopathic “regular” medicine, but is more holistic and patient-oriented. We are not forbidden to seek out science as well as alternative scientific ideas and explanations. There is no Catholic teaching that says “you must use mainstream allopathic medicine, only that and nothing else”. I make liberal use of herbals and other supplements in my own health regime, in tandem with allopathic medicines and treatments.
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Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
I second this question. If anything, (based on my experience), I would think an osteopath would be preferable.
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Rau
Guest
Umm…that’s a matter for local jurisdictions.
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27lw
Guest
In the USA osteopaths are recognized as licensed doctors.27lw:
Umm…that’s a matter for local jurisdictions.
DO vs. MD: Differences and what they do
Both DOs and MDs are licensed doctors that require rigorous study and residency programs in order to gain licensure. Learn about the differences here.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Osteopathy - Wikipedia
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TK421
Guest
Practitioners of osteopathic medicine can be licensed doctors. Even with non-licensed forms of medicine, it isn’t intrinsically evil. Using acupuncture to treat gastrointestinal problems might be a waste of time and money, but it isn’t forbidden in the sense that practicing magic or voodoo are forbidden. It would be more a matter of poor prudence than it would be of something being strictly forbidden.
It’s important to make that distinction which is why it is good to have a Confessor.
It’s important to make that distinction which is why it is good to have a Confessor.
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Rau
Guest
“In the US…”. Right.
I take it they are treated as a licensed medical practitioner, though distinct from a General Practitioner? Thus, they have a right to use the term “doctor”, though they are distinct from the General Practitioners we attend for a broad range of ailments. Is that the US situation?
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EmilyAlexandra
Guest
@27lw @Rau
I understand the confusion. In the UK, osteopathy is a health profession regulated by law, but it is essentially a form of alternative medicine, and its focus is on moving, stretching, and massaging the joints. Osteopaths are not qualified medical doctors and they are not registered with the General Medical Council.
In the US, on the other hand, osteopathy has evolved to become a branch of medicine. Osteopaths (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs) are both licensed physicians. They undertake essentially the same training, and both are routes to a career in medicine (when I say “essentially”, I know that there are differences, but I am contrasting with the UK situation, where osteopaths do not undertake any medical training at all).
In the UK, we usually use the term “general practice”, whereas in the US, they generally use the term “primary care”. We do, in fact, use “primary care” in the UK as well, but it’s generally used in a more technical sense. Please note that general practice, despite the name, is actually a specialism in its own right, i.e. there is a specific postgraduate training route to become a GP, and a GP has to be listed on the register of GPs. If a specialist wants to transfer into general practice, they still have to complete the GP training (it could be slightly shortened). In the US, about half of DOs are primary care physicians (similar to GPs), whereas about a quarter of MDs are primary care physicians. Therefore, a DO is not necessarily a primary care physician.
Also, in general, it is confusing to people from (most of) the Commonwealth of Nations and Ireland when Americans use the term “MD” to mean a physician. Here, an MD or DM is a doctor of medicine, which is a research degree equivalent to a PhD or DPhil. The basic qualification to be a physician is bachelor of medicine (usually conjoint with the degree of bachelor of surgery, and in Ireland also conjoint with the degree of bachelor of the art of obstetrics).
I understand the confusion. In the UK, osteopathy is a health profession regulated by law, but it is essentially a form of alternative medicine, and its focus is on moving, stretching, and massaging the joints. Osteopaths are not qualified medical doctors and they are not registered with the General Medical Council.
In the US, on the other hand, osteopathy has evolved to become a branch of medicine. Osteopaths (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs) are both licensed physicians. They undertake essentially the same training, and both are routes to a career in medicine (when I say “essentially”, I know that there are differences, but I am contrasting with the UK situation, where osteopaths do not undertake any medical training at all).
In the UK, we usually use the term “general practice”, whereas in the US, they generally use the term “primary care”. We do, in fact, use “primary care” in the UK as well, but it’s generally used in a more technical sense. Please note that general practice, despite the name, is actually a specialism in its own right, i.e. there is a specific postgraduate training route to become a GP, and a GP has to be listed on the register of GPs. If a specialist wants to transfer into general practice, they still have to complete the GP training (it could be slightly shortened). In the US, about half of DOs are primary care physicians (similar to GPs), whereas about a quarter of MDs are primary care physicians. Therefore, a DO is not necessarily a primary care physician.
The problem is that we do not know where the OP is from. I have noticed that on this forum there is usually an assumption that everyone is from the US. If the OP is not the from US, it is likely that an osteopath in this case is not a medical doctor of any kind and is just an alternative medicine practitioner.
Also, in general, it is confusing to people from (most of) the Commonwealth of Nations and Ireland when Americans use the term “MD” to mean a physician. Here, an MD or DM is a doctor of medicine, which is a research degree equivalent to a PhD or DPhil. The basic qualification to be a physician is bachelor of medicine (usually conjoint with the degree of bachelor of surgery, and in Ireland also conjoint with the degree of bachelor of the art of obstetrics).
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Inbonum
Guest
Osteopathy can be associated with the New Age (through the osteopath himself and some of the techniques he uses).
Since osteopathy doesn’t belong in conventional medicine I wouldn’t go to an osteopath because I can’t always know what he does and how. For example, in my country, alternative medicine is almost completely unrecognized in terms of the law (because of suspicious practices and many frauds), but in some hospitals acupuncture can be used to treat pain as well as some other techniques of alternative medicine which are strictly regulated.
There are techniques used by osteopaths that are not scientifically proven at all.
Since osteopathy doesn’t belong in conventional medicine I wouldn’t go to an osteopath because I can’t always know what he does and how. For example, in my country, alternative medicine is almost completely unrecognized in terms of the law (because of suspicious practices and many frauds), but in some hospitals acupuncture can be used to treat pain as well as some other techniques of alternative medicine which are strictly regulated.
There are techniques used by osteopaths that are not scientifically proven at all.
I hope it helps.
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Inbonum
Guest
I don’t say it is in general connected to New Age nor the source I cited says that. It depends on osteopath and techniques he uses, not the state in which he lives.
We also have doctors of medicine who use alternative medicine. They are recognised and accepted normally - because of their medical licence which they got after finishing School of Medicine and not because of alternative medicine certificate - alternative medicine isn’t accepted if doctor uses it.
My primary care doctor can prescribe homeopatic drug but he must warn me and ask me if I want it because it is registered as dietary supplement not as drug (homeopathy isn’t scientifically proven as effective at all) but at the same time homepathy medicine isn’t accepted by the law as something that can cure someone as conventional medicine.
Doctors can be fired for using alternative medicine and lose their licence (exception is acupuncture or neuro and biofeedback)
For example The European Medicines Agency is stricter than American FDA and I suppose that’s why some things are still allowed in USA.
Even if some things in alternative medicine aren’t connected to New Age they are very hard to be proven by science and many of them are hoax.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
I used to see an osteopath. In USA as someone else mentioned, an osteopath is the same as a medical doctor and is required to receive sufficient medical training to become a doctor. There was also nothing even remotely “new age” about my DO’s practice. Nor was it “alternative medicine”. The biggest difference between her and my previous MD is that she was less likely to push me to take prescriptions for minor ailments like a spot of psoriasis on my arm.
It’s my understanding that standards for training osteopaths are different in Europe and that’s why they aren’t regarded the same as doctors there.
https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doct...hic-physicians-and-osteopaths-trained-abroad-
It’s my understanding that standards for training osteopaths are different in Europe and that’s why they aren’t regarded the same as doctors there.
https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doct...hic-physicians-and-osteopaths-trained-abroad-
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