More than words: Just how easy is it to ditch the term ‘junior doctor’?

The AMA says that over the last few years it has deliberately adopted the term 'doctor in training'.

As the British Medical Association has announced that it will officially ditch the use of the term ‘junior doctor’ in November, a similar debate may be brewing again here.

The change came after a long debate in the UK medical community over the connotation linked to the term — with many arguing that ‘junior’ doctor was demeaning.

Following a 56-page report titled What should we call junior doctors?, the British Medical Association says it will use the term ‘resident doctors’ instead. 

The AMA says that over the last few years it has deliberately adopted the term ‘doctor in training’ given the way the junior label was so misleading.