MD vs PT diagnosis: which statement is accurate?

• A. PT: classify movement system impairments, functional limitations/disabilities
• B. PT: classify disease etiology and prognosis
• C. MD: classify cause and treatment of disease
• D. PT: classify movement system impairments, functional limitations/disabilities

Answer: (C)

In medical practice, you separate what a disease is from how movement and function are affected and addressed. MDs focus on the disease itself—its underlying cause (etiology) and how to manage or treat it—so their diagnosis often centers on identifying what is causing the illness and planning treatment accordingly.

That’s why the statement about the MD role being to classify the cause and treatment of disease is the best fit here. It captures the physician’s responsibility to determine etiology and outline management, which is distinct from guiding rehabilitation and movement-based recovery.

Physical therapists, on the other hand, focus on movement system impairments and functional limitations/disabilities to guide rehabilitation. While their practice may involve classifying and labeling movement issues, the physician’s scope centers on disease causation and medical treatment planning.