A
physician is a person who practices
medicine. The term "physician" is traditional and still commonly used in the
United States, but in the
United Kingdom and
Australia the term is not used - instead they are called a "
doctor" (a term also used in the US). Often also called a "medical doctor". Related titles are "
veterinarian", used for one who cures diseases in
animals, and "
biologist", used for one who studies the
life sciences in general.
In most jurisdictions nowadays, physicians need government permission to practise their profession. This is known as licensing in the United States, as colegiation in Spain, as men'kyo in Japan and as registration in Australia.
Titles for specialised physicians include:
See also : medicine