Osteopathy

Osteopathy was founded by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., who was born in 1828 in Virginia, in reaction to what he perceived as inadequate medical treatment of his day. Specifically, he believed that other conventionally trained physicians over-prescribed to patients harsh and often toxic medications. He invented the name "osteopathy" by blending two Greek roots osteon- for bone and -pathos for suffering in order to communiciate his theory that disease and physiologic dysfunction were etiologically grounded in a disordered musculoskeletal system. Thus, by diagnosing and treating the musculoskeletal system, he believed that physicians could treat a variety of diseases and spare patients the negative side-effects of drugs. He intended his new system of medicine to be a reformation of the existing 19th century medical practices he knew and imagined that someday "rational medical therapy" would consist of manipulation of the musculoskeletal system, surgery, and very sparingly used drugs (for example, antiseptics, ointments, or laxatives).

Osteopathic medical practice began in 1874 in the US. From its very inception, early practitioners embraced the movement's philosophy and theories to varying degrees. Some held steadfastly to its core tenets while others were more apt to 'blend' features of osteopathy with other conventional or competing schools of medicine. Thus, early in the twentieth century, the American osteopathic profession adopted the use of medicine and surgery, whereas chiropractors continue to use strictly manipulative techniques. Outside of the USA, osteopaths tended to stay closer to their traditional approach. As biomedical science developed, osteopathy gradually incorporated all its proven theories and practices. Qualified DOs have been admitted to full active membership of the American Medical Association since 1969. Today, except for a stronger primary care emphasis in most osteopathic medical schools and additional education in musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment, the training and scope of osteopathy in the United States is identical to that of allopathic or conventional biomedicine.

Current status and scope of practice

Because of the varying degrees of acceptance of osteopathic theories and principles among early practitioners, there are two divergent scopes of practice within the osteopathic world. Though they are so different as to be considered two separate professions, there have been attempts in the last few years to enhance exchange and dialogue between them. In other parts of the world, especially Australia, and New Zealand, D.O.s have a narrower scope of practice limited to manual therapy.

In the United States D.O.s are medically trained practitioners. Because only 6% of physicians in the USA are D.O.s, many patients are unaware that the D.O. degree is the legal and professional equivalent of the M.D. degree. Acceptance by traditional M.D.s and their institutions was once an issue for osteopathic practitioners. Today, D.O.s and M.D.s work side by side in the health care setting. However, this wasn't always the case and osteopathic medicine's historical, and often confrontational, clashes with organized allopathic medicine is occasionally a point of contention between the fields.

In the 1960s in California, the American Medical Association (AMA) spent nearly $8 million to end the practice of osteopathy in the state. With considerable financial support from the AMA, the state passed a state wide referendum (Proposition 22) ending the practice of osteopathic medicine in California. California D.O.s were granted the M.D. degree in exchange for paying $65 and attending a short seminar. The College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons became the University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine. However, the decision proved quite controversial. In 1974, after protest and lobbying by a group of influential and prominent D.O.s, the California Supreme Court ruled that licensing of D.O.s in that state must be resumed.

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