Abstract
In February 2026, the American College of Physicians (ACP) published a policy paper recommending against using “provider” to describe physicians. The paper argues that using the term “undermines the physician’s ethical obligations, clinical integrity, and accountability, as well as trust in the patient-physician relationship” (Snider Sulmasy et al., 2026). It highlights the significance of referring to a physician as a physician, as this distinction is important legally and ethically.
