You have no idea what you are talking about, and, sadly, Dr. Barrett, as much as I admire his history and work, is far behind the times on this. In the US, DOs are equivalent to MDs. They do the same postgraduate residencies. They are no more likely to be quacks than MDs. https://twitter.com/sapinker/status/1312975755815591936

In fact, @sapinker, it might behoove you to know that, as of July 1, 2020, MD and DO residencies are accredited and overseen by the same council. https://www.sgu.edu/blog/medical/do-md-merger-explained/

Also, nice of Pinker to limit who can reply, leaving my only option to quote-Tweet him to tell him how ignorant he is about this.

Oh, it's on now, @sapinker. Don't you dare quote the blog I edit to support your ignorant take on DOs. It does not support your claim; indeed the vast majority of DOs in the US do not use osteopathy. https://twitter.com/sapinker/status/1313123511796367360?s=20

Much of the confusion comes from osteopathy in the US compared to the rest of the world. In much of the rest of the world, osteopathic doctors are more like chiropractors than MDs.

That's not true in the US, where DO schools teach the same curriculum as MD schools, plus, admittedly, osteopathy. However, the residencies are now the same, and some of the finest doctors I've ever worked with are DOs.

Are there DOs who are quacks? Of course. ( @mercola and @DrButtar come immediately to mind.) However, I can name more MDs who are quacks (probably because there are more MDs than DOs); e.g., @kellybroganmd, Stanislaw Burzynski, @DrOz, etc.

To reiterate, there's no evidence that, in the US at least, DOs are more prone to be quacks or incompetent than MDs.

In fact, @SciPeds prefaced the post @sapinker cited thusly: "I would like to preface this post by stating that I have worked with many DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy), and I have helped train many pediatric residents with DO degrees..."

"...I have found no difference in the overall quality of the training these students have received, and some of the very best clinicians I have ever worked with have been DOs..."

"...I would never prejudice my assessment or opinion of a physician based on whether they have an MD or a DO after their name." Funny how @sapinker ignored @SciPeds clear statement that DOs and MDs are equivalent in the US.