FAQ - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PODIATRIST AND A CHIROPODIST ANSWERED BY DR. HARDY

IN ONTARIO THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 650 CHIROPODISTS AND 50 PRACTICING PODIATRISTS PROVIDING ONTARIANS WITH FOOT CARE.  PODIATRISTS ARE THE SMALLEST REGULATED PROFESSION IN ONTARIO PROVIDING HEALTH CARE.  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2 PROFESSIONS IS NEGLIGIBLE AND YOU WILL BE ASSURED TO BE PROVIDED EXCELLENT FOOT CARE WHOM EVER YOU CHOOSE TO CONSULT AS THEY ARE BOTH HIGHLY EDUCATED AND SKILLED.  BOTH PROFESSIONS REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 6 YEARS POST GRADUATE STUDIES AND MANY HAVE MUCH MORE THAN THIS SUCH AS MY LOVELY WIFE MARZ HARDY, D.CH., B.SC., PODIATRIC MEDICINE WHO HAS 9 YEARS POST GRADUATE STUDIES AND IS CONSTANTLY ATTENDING SEMINARS AND COURSES TO FURTHER HER KNOWLEDGE WITHIN THE FIELDS OF PODIATRY, CHIROPODY AND PODIATRIC MEDICINE.

ONE DIFFERENCE THAT ONTARIO PODIATRISTS HAVE THAT IS RELEVENT IS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PERFORM SURGERY OF THE BONY STRUCTURES OF THE FOREFOOT.  ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 50 PRACTICING PODIATRISTS PRESENTLY IN ONTARIO, VERY FEW ACTUALLY PROVIDE THIS SURGERY IN THEIR CLINIC, IN FACT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ONTARIO PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DOES NOT PERFORM BONE SURGERY.  THIS IS BETTER LEFT TO ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS DONE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING AND IS NOT REALLY NECESSARY IN MOST CASES.  IN MY FOOT CLINIC WE HAVE 4 FOOT SPECIALIST AND WE HAVE ONLY HAD LESS THAN A HANDFULL OF PATIENTS IN 13 YEARS WHICH REQUIRED BONE SURGERY. 

AT DR.HARDY'S TORONTO FOOT CLINIC, ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHIC CLINICS WE PRACTICE CONSERVATIVE FOOT CARE WHERE WE AVOID SURGERY AND MEDICATIONS (DRUGS) AT ALL COSTS AS THERE IS NO SURGERY OR DRUG WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS, SOMETIMES SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING.

BOTH ONTARIO PODIATRISTS AND ONTARIO CHIROPODISTS ARE ALLOWED TO DIAGNOSE, ONLY THAT CHIROPODISTS ARE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO CONVEY THE DIAGNOSIS THE PATIENT.  AS ONTARIO CHIROPODISTS ARE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THIS MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.  CAN YOU IMAGINE TAKING A PATIENT'S CASE HISTORY, PROVIDING A THOROUGH EXAMINATION TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THEIR CONDITION AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT THEIR PROBLEM IS THAT YOU WILL BE TREATING THEM FOR?  SOMETIMES THE LAW IS AN ASS!  ONTARIO CHIROPRACTORS HAD TO PRACTICE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS UNTIL 1991 WHEN THEY WERE GRANTED THE PRIVILEGE TO LEGALLY CONVEY A DIAGNOSIS TO  A PATIENT.  THEY DID IT ANYWAY AS IT WAS A NECESSITY BUT WERE REALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT.  REALLY MADE NO SENSE AT ALL.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE REQUIRES HONEST, COMPETENT ADVICE OR QUALITY FOOT CARE OR ORTHOTICS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DR. HARDY'S TORONTO FOOT CLINIC AT 416-465-8737.  FOOT SPECIALISTS WHO LOVE THEIR PROFESSION AND ARE DEDICATED TO THIER PATIENTS.

PROFESSIONAL FOOT CLINIC

416-465-8737

Toronto, ON Chiropodist Academy Foot and Orthotic

752 BROADVIEW AVENUE Toronto, ON M4K 2P1 

Across from the Broadview Subway | Professional Family Foot Care