Someone I know sent me a video called Veterinarian vs. MD. Given the source, I had a suspicion that it would not be serious. However, I found it both funny and sad at the same time. View the video and then read on.
It’s funny and sad because much of what it says is true. Veterinarians have a very broad base of knowledge about many different species, and because we are the first line of defense against the spread of zoonotic diseases, we even learn a touch about human health. We’re clear that we cannot diagnose or treat people, though.
Human medical doctors, on the other hand, are expected to know a lot about only one species. Also, given all of the laws and guidelines they must follow lest they get sued, and all the paperwork required to make sure they get paid by the many different kinds of insurance companies, they must know about all the paperwork involved to “treat” their patients.
What I find saddest of all is that because many human medical doctors don’t understand that veterinary medical doctors are “real” doctors, it prevents the One Health movement from progressing as fast as it could.
Please help us spread the word that veterinarians are real doctors because we do know so much about medicine, and because we can help prevent diseases that people can get from animals in different environments. Tell us how you are helping spread the word. Contact us today!
