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The medical field offers several career opportunities for students in India. Two of these career prospects includes a Physiotherapist and a medical doctor. “can a Physiotherapist be called a Medical doctor”, this question has been a centre of debate for a long time. Several acts and verdicts have been made in the past regarding this.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) is the entry level course in the field of Physiotherapy education in India. After completing the BPT course, graduates can practise as physiotherapists or may choose Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) for further higher study. On the other hand, becoming a medical doctor in India requires an MBBS degree. After completing an MBBS degree, individuals receive the title of “Doctor”. After completing MBBS, doctors can further pursue postgraduate degrees like Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS). Read the full article to know comprehensive details on “Can a Physiotherapist use the prefix dr”?
One of the most asked question related to Physiotherapy and MBBS is “Are Physiotherapists doctors”. Many people get confused between these two. Below is an overview of both Physiotherapy and MBBS.
Features | Physiotherapy | MBBS |
Full name | Bachelor of Physiotherapy | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
Field | Paramedical | Medical |
Duration | 4 years and 6 months (internship of 6 months) | 5 years and 6 months (includes 1 year of mandatory internship) |
Course type | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Admission through | Entrance exam/ merit-based | |
Higher education | MPT | MD/MS |
The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1994, regulates the training of rehabilitation professionals and maintains a Central Rehabilitation Register. The "physiotherapist" is a rehabilitation professional in India, and only those individuals with a recognised qualification and registered with the RCI can practise as a physiotherapist in India. This act ensures that physiotherapists follow the regulations of the RCI act.
As per this act, Physiotherapists are not allowed to practise medicine or prescribe drugs, without their recognised qualifications. They cannot claim to be a specialist medical practitioner and prefix "Dr" with their name in prescriptions, and is considered as a fraud by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The answer to “can a physiotherapist use dr?” is “No”. A Physiotherapist cannot call themselves a doctor. There are three major systems of medicine in India - Allopathic, Ayurvedic, and Homoeopathy. The term ‘doctor’ can be used only by the practitioners of Allopathic systems of Medicine that have been recognised by the Government of India and the physiotherapists are not allowed to portray themselves as registered medical practitioners by prefixing the word ‘Dr’ with their name.
On the basis of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Section 15(2)(b of the 1956 act prohibits all persons from practising modern scientific medicine in any state except a medical practitioner enrolled on a State Medical Register. There are two types of registration - provisional registration for training in an approved institution, and registration under Section 15(1). The third category is the "Indian Medical Register," maintained by the State Medical Council, which requires a recognised medical qualification.
The court noted that a person registered in a State Medical Register cannot be enrolled on the Indian Medical Register unless they possess a recognised medical qualification. As per this verdict each system does not allow crosspathy, and a person with recognised qualifications is only authorised to practise in that system and stated that a person without knowledge of a particular system of medicine is considered as an imposter or a fraud.
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Becoming a Physiotherapist or a medical doctor in India requires hard work. The entry level to become a Physiotherapist is through Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), while the first step towards becoming a medical doctor is through an MBBS course.
The below table mentions the list of several entrance examinations that are required for Physiotherapy, and MBBS.
Feature | Physiotherapy | MBBS |
Minimum eligibility | 10 + 2 or its equivalent from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology | 10 + 2 or its equivalent from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
Entrance exam |
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Counselling Date:29 November,2024 - 02 December,2024
Counselling Date:03 December,2024 - 06 December,2024
Counselling Date:04 December,2024 - 04 December,2024
Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.
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An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.
Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.
A Narcotics Officer is an officer employed by the state to investigate the usage of drugs and their trafficking. A narcotics officer conducts undercover operations, investigates suspected drug dealers, executes raids and other appropriate actions for arresting these traffickers to reduce the circulation of drugs in the country.
A narcotics officer works in collaboration with other government agencies to stop drug trafficking at borders. He or she engages with various NGOs and public organisations to teach people about the dangerous effects of drug usage. A narcotics officer plays an important role in reducing the illegal activities of drug dealers and the circulation of drugs in the nation.
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A Biotechnologist is a professional who possesses strong knowledge and techniques that are utilised in creating and developing innovative products that improve the quality of human life standards. A biochemist uses biological organisms to create and improve goods and procedures for agriculture, medicine, and sustainability. He or she researches the genetic, chemical, and physical characteristics of cells, tissues, and organisms to determine how they can be used industrially.
A career as R&D Personnel requires researching, planning, and implementing new programs and protocols into their organization and overseeing new products’ development. He or she uses his or her creative abilities to improve the existing products as per the requirements of the target market.
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