RD, please respond

RD, I am reposting this since you didn't answer last time. BTW, optometrists and pharmacists (who are as important to medicine as any medical profession including allopathic medicine) are different than podiatric physicians and surgeons. DPMs use all priciples of allopathic and occasionally osteopathic medicine to treat pathology of the lower extremity. This includes all available diagnostic and therapeutic options. We have full prescribing and treatment options as they apply to our patients. We can and do practice full scope. If a state permits an optometrist to prescribe meds, admit patients, and perform full scope (including surgery) on the eye then they should be considered physicians and surgeons. Now please answer this previous post since you ignored it last time:


RD, you bash podiatry and tout MDs. Please answer this:
If DPMs are so bad then........................................

Why do orthopedic practices and multispecialty MD/DO groups hire our residents to practice full scope surgery?

Why do orthopedic journals publish articles authored by DPMs?

Why do orthopedists refer us surgical patients?

Why do orthopedists invite us to lecture and share the podium with us on surgical matters?

Why do some university orthopedic departments permit DPMs to do full scope surgical care?

I agree that that there are good and bad DPMs. I also know there are good and bad orthopedists. But you can't have it both ways. If we are not truly qualified to do the surgery and care of the foot and ankle then why would any of your colleagues do the above. Truth be told a well trained DPM is equal to a well trained foot orthopod. The only difference is that a DPM has to work twice as hard to prove themselves because of people like you. Oh unless you are a DO. It's amazing that DOs still get bashed by the MD community unless there is one( a DO) in the room. I have found that many who belittle others are not the best of their profession. They have to bring down others to their level. If they are competent, qualified, and secure they have little time to attack. They let their work advertise their degree. Face it there a great foot and ankle surgeons throughout the world. Some are MDs, some are DOs, and yes some are DPMs. My patients and referring MDs and DOs show me the respect they have for my skills and quite frankly I don't need your approval. In fact neither do my patients.
Take a pill, get some confidence, and consider going back to DPM school.

Ciao,
The DPM who is taking your patients and your position in an ortho practice