The American College of Physicians issued a policy paper in February 2026 stating that physicians should not be referred to as “providers,” arguing that the term undermines professional identity, ethical responsibility, and public understanding of medical care.
The policy paper was published in the February 2026 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. It was authored by the ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee and formally adopted as an organizational position of the ACP.
The paper emphasizes that language used in healthcare is not neutral and plays a critical role in shaping how patients understand medical roles and how physicians perceive their professional responsibilities.
According to the ACP, the term “provider” has become widely used in administrative, regulatory, and insurance settings. However, the organization argues that the label is overly broad and inaccurately groups physicians together with institutions, insurers, and a wide range of healthcare workers who have different training, roles, and responsibilities.
The policy paper states that referring to physicians as providers can diminish recognition of the extensive education, clinical judgment, and ethical accountability required in medical practice. It also risks framing medical care as a transactional service rather than a professional relationship centered on patient trust and individualized decision-making.
ACP further notes that the use of generic terminology can confuse patients about who is responsible for their medical decisions, potentially weakening transparency in the healthcare system.
The ACP frames the issue as an ethical concern rather than a semantic preference. The paper explains that professional titles convey meaning about responsibility, authority, and accountability in patient care.
According to the policy, calling physicians “providers” obscures the fiduciary nature of the patient-physician relationship, which is grounded in professional obligation rather than service delivery alone. The authors argue that precise language supports ethical practice by clearly identifying who holds clinical responsibility for diagnosis and treatment.
The paper also links the rise of the term “provider” to increasing commercialization and standardization in healthcare, warning that such language can reinforce a business-oriented view of medicine at the expense of professional values.
The policy paper urges healthcare organizations, policymakers, insurers, and clinicians to adopt more accurate terminology. ACP recommends using the term “physician” when referring to medical doctors and reserving broader terms such as “clinician” or “health care professional” for situations involving multiple roles.
The organization stresses that role-specific language respects the diversity of healthcare professionals while preserving clarity about training, scope of practice, and accountability.
Expressing his opinion on the same, Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada MD, FAAP (Neonatologist) tweeted:
ACP states that adopting clearer language can improve patient understanding of who is responsible for their care and strengthen trust in the patient-physician relationship. For healthcare systems, the policy encourages reassessing documentation, policies, and communication practices to better reflect professional roles.
The organization concludes that words used in healthcare shape expectations, values, and relationships, making terminology an essential component of ethical medical practice.