Medical doctors hold one of the oldest professions in the world. Physicians date back to ancient times and are found in every culture all over the world. They core responsibility is centered on maintaining the health of healthy individuals or restoring the health of sick individuals. With their special education and training, they have the ability to diagnose a particular ailment or illness then provide medical treatment. They are vital to physical maintenance of our society.
There are many names and terms for physicians. Medical doctors are often termed General Practitioners and they hold a general knowledge of medicine. These are our family physicians. Those that have specialties are called so by that particular specialty. For instance, a heart doctor is known as a cardiologist. But you can have the title Doctor without being in the medical profession.
The first recorded physicians were found in ancient Egypt. Medical schools were established in several ancient civilizations. Individuals spent many years understanding the body and various illnesses and how to treat them. Surgeons also date back to ancient times. Surgeries on the heart and brain were routinely performed.
High level academic degrees are known as doctorates. An English professor can be called a doctor if he has earned such a degree. Canada and the United States hold the term physician for those that have acquired the advance degree of Doctor of Medicine otherwise known as M. D. You will see this noted after the physicians full name.
In modern medicine, the first American program was established in 1765. The Bachelor of Medicine was the first medical degree offered in North America and Canada. Most of the beginning medical schools were founded by medical practitioners that received their training in England. The degree later changed from Bachelor of Medicine to Medical Doctorate.
Physicians are held to high standards both on professional and societal levels. Many believe that medial practitioners should serve the community with a high level of ethics and morality. Some commentators believe that physicians should serve their communities as role models especially in the area of their own health. Many commentators have stated that doctors should not smoke or heavily drink. The dangers associated to smoking and drinking prove to be irresponsible if indulged by those in the medical profession. Statistics show that not many Western medical practitioners smoke. They tend to choose a healthy lifestyle that excludes smoking. Studies also show that those in the medical professions tend to live longer than legal professionals.
Getting into medical school is a very competitive process. Only about a third of the thousands of applicants make it into a school. Once admitted, several others will never make it through the entire program. Before getting admitted into medical school you have to complete a four year undergraduate program. Upon doing so, then you must take the medical school entrance exam which is known as the MCAT.
After passing all of the required course work and exams in medical school, students then move on the their qualifying licensing. There are certain credentials required to practice medicine. New doctors must do a certain amount of clinical hours and pass several exams. Then there is a required residency program new physicians must fulfill. Those that are choosing a particular specialty will have additional training and qualifying exams.
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When an individual is ill they should go and consult a physician. There are many different types of doctors who each focus in a specific field of medical practice such as paediatrics, or family practice.
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