Medical Questions » Diet Questions » Question No. 279
| Question: | Doctors seem to love putting the full alphabet of letters after their names to impress patients, but do these letters really mean anything, or are they merely being snobs? I would appreciate it if you could let me know just what (if anything) these doctors are trying to prove. |
| Answer: | The letters after a doctors name usually show that the doctor actually has medical qualifications and where they were obtained (eg. NSW or Qld after basic medical degree), and additionally show what specialty a doctor practises. Further letters may indicate areas of special interest, or honours for service to medicine or the community.
The letters can be interpreted by patients to find out more about their doctor, but are more commonly interpreted by other doctors so that they can work out just what their colleagues have done and can do.
An explanation of the most commonly encountered qualification abbrev
iations follows.
BCh Bachelor of Surgery. Part of a basic medical degree. Usually from
a British University.
BMedSc Bachelor of Medical Science. An additional degree that may be
taken during or after the medical course, on a specific area in
medicine (eg: Biochemistry).
BPhty Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Basic physiotherapy degree.
BS Bachelor of Surgery. Part of a basic medical degree.
ChB Bachelor of Surgery. Part of a basic medical degree. Usually from
a British University.
DA Diploma in Anaesthetics. Further study undertaken in
Anaesthetics, but not a specialist anaesthetist.
DCH Diploma in Child Health. Further study undertaken in child health, but not a specialist paediatrician.
DFP Diploma in Family Planning. Further study on contraceptive
methods undertaken.
DObst Diploma in Obstetrics from the Royal Australian College of
RACOG Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Further study into obstetrics
undertaken, but not a specialist obstetrician.
FACRRM Fellow Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
FAMAvS Fellow Australian Medical Acupuncture Society. Doctor who has
undertaken further study in acupuncture. FRACGP Fellow Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Doctor
who has completed further course of study, and passed exams on
general practice. FRACOG Fellow Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists. Specialist in childbirth and women' s diseases.
FRACP Fellow Royal Australian College of Physicians. Specialist
physician.
FRACR Fellow Royal Australian College of Radiologists. Specialist in
X-rays etc.
FRACS Fellow Royal Australian College of Surgeons. Specialist surgeon.
FRANZCP Fellow Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
Psychiatrists. Specialist psychiatrist.
FRCGP Fellow Royal College of General Practitioners. English doctor who
has completed further course of study, and passed exams on
general practice. FRCOG Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
English specialist in childbirth and women' s diseases.
FRCP Fellow Royal College of Physicians. English specialist physician.
FRCPath Fellow Royal College of Pathologists. English specialist
pathologist. FRCPsych Fellow Royal College of Psychiatrists. English specialist
psychiatrist.
FRCS Fellow Royal College of Surgeons. English specialist surgeon.
LRCP Licentiate Royal College of Physicians. Old-fashioned English
basic medical qualification.
MB Bachelor of Medicine. Part of basic medical degree.
MD Doctor of Medicine. Basic medical degree in North America and
Europe. Higher qualification in Australia and Britain.
MS Master of Surgery. Higher degree in surgery.
PhD Doctor of Philosophy. Doctorate degree in a special area of skill,
usually not involving medicine.
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