Doctoral Degree

[Guest guest]

In the Chinese hospitals of TCM, the Doctors who practice herbology,

acupuncture, etc. have classical training, yet are also trained and

fluent in basic Western Medicine. An herbalist I observed with in

China would feel a pulse and send someone for a blood test, and then

the next patient would be prescribed a formula from the Shang Han Lun

after pulse and basic inquiry.

 

If the goal of being a Dr. of is to be the

equivalent of TCM Doctors in China, then *both* the Classics, Medical

Chinese, and higher level Western sciences ought to be required. A

modern 'Dr.' of TCM should be able to order and read several types of

tests, including X-rays, if we want to be taken seriously as Drs.

(Think of N.D. and D.C.s, for example) Of course, this would

increase our responsibilities and liabilities. " With great power

comes great responsibility. "

 

Personally, I'm glad I'm able to be a solo practitioner and not

required to order lab tests, xrays, etc. I don't want anything to do

with insurance companies. Being a 'Dr.' of would

probably mean being more mainstream, doing insurance billing, having

larger, more equipment intensive offices, etc.

 

When only about 5 members of my graduating class of 45 or so chose to

go study in China following graduation (and student loans were

available for it), I got the impression that there wasn't much

interest in becomming as highly educated as possible.

 

Now, if they could buy the title 'Dr.' for another $20,000 and

jumping through a few hoops, I'm sure many of them would do it in an

instant.

 

My 2 cents worth,

 

Kevin