I am always surprised when even well education friends don't know the difference between a board-certified medical doctor and a "doctor" who is not an M.D. Now many states are allowing even nurse practitioners to write prescriptions. Then there are the so-called doctors of naturopathic medicine, doctors of chiropractic medicine, and doctors, who are not medically trained, but have a Ph.D. or dental degree and nurse practitioners who get a doctor of nursing degree. Sadly, many M.Ds today are all about making money, so some become hospitalists, which means they have fewer hours, work in hospitals, and are not on call or have regular office hours, as do pediatricians, family doctors, internists, and other specialties. When you look at the number of hours it takes to become a board-certified physician and compare it with the hours it takes for the other "Doctors", there is no comparison. To become an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon, for example, you need four years of college, four years of medical school, a year of internship, and three or four years of residency. Doctors of naturopathic medicine do not do an internship or residency and special provisions are made if they have had just two years of college. Some nursing schools, I am told are taking students right after high school without a college degree.
Now with the Internet you can look at a "Doctor's" training. It is always important to see where a doctor went to school, what training he or she has had and if the doctor is an M.D. or something else. You could even save your life or that of a child or family member.