[NPInfo] (no subject)

[arnplaw at comcast.net]

I liked the original one much better.  I am tired of clothing our responses to AMA's outrageous attempts to restrict practice in such nice terms.  It is time to call it like it is.

Julia 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Diana Galler <galdena at sbcglobal.net> 

> The APA's official response to the AMA's attempt to restrict the term "Doctor": 
> 
> 
> June 11, 2008 
> 
> Via E-Mail to: Roger.Brown at ama-assn.org 
> 
> David Lichtman, MD, Chair 
> AMA Reference Committee C, Medical Education 
> c/o Roger Brown, Ph.D. 
> Director, Office of the House of Delegates Affairs 
> American Medical Association 
> 515 N. State Street 
> Chicago, Il 60610 
> 
> Re: American Medical Association House of Delegates 
> Resolution 303 (A-08) 
> Restricted Use of the Titles “Doctor,” “Resident,” and 
> “Residency” 
> 
> Dear Dr. Lichtman, 
> 
> The American Psychological Association (“APA”) strongly urges the 
> American Medical Association House of Delegates to oppose proposed Resolution 
> 303, which seeks to restrict the title of “doctor,” “resident,” and "residency" 
> in medical settings to apply only to physicians, dentists, and podiatrists. APA 
> is the leading scientific and professional society representing psychologists in 
> the United States and is the world's largest association of doctorally trained 
> psychologists, with more than 148,000 members and affiliates. Psychologists 
> practice in all areas of health care and have a long history of using the title 
> "doctor" in all medical settings, including hospitals, academic health centers, 
> medical schools, clinics, and private offices. 
> 
> Use of the term “doctor” recognizes psychologists’ extensive education and 
> training as well as their positions in medical settings as supervisors and 
> managers of patient care at the highest level. Licensed psychologists spend an 
> average of seven years, beyond college, in education and supervised training 
> leading to licensure to practice psychology. Psychologists complete extensive 
> doctoral level training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders well 
> beyond that which physicians receive. This training includes thousands of hours 
> of supervised practice in psychology and a year of formal internship. Most 
> psychologists also receive supervised post-doctoral training as one of the 
> requirements for licensure. Psychologists are licensed to practice 
> independently, free of physician supervision, in all 50 states and are 
> recognized as 
> 
> 
> independent practitioners by state and federal programs, including by Medicare 
> and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Psychologists serve on the medical 
> staffs of hundreds of hospitals, supervise treatment teams, and hold senior 
> management positions at medical facilities. Psychologists are also routinely 
> referred to as “doctor” in European and other countries. 
> 
> Psychologists who receive training in a specialty practice area are also 
> referred to as “residents.” They train in residencies housed in academic health 
> centers, medical schools and other medical settings. These programs are 
> accredited by the American Psychological Association, which is recognized as an 
> accreditation agency by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council 
> for Higher Education Accreditation. 
> 
> Proposed Resolution 303 would only confuse patients, who have used the word 
> “doctor” to refer to psychologists in medical and mental health settings for 
> decades. The term recognizes psychologists’ extensive education and training 
> and their high-level, independent management of patient care. APA strongly 
> urges the American Medical Association House of Delegates to oppose Resolution 
> 303. 
> 
> Please feel free to contact Maureen Testoni at 202-336-5886 if you have any 
> questions. 
> 
> Sincerely, 
> 
> 
> Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D. Norman 
> B. Anderson, Ph.D. 
> APA President 
> Chief Executive Officer 
> 
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