American Style Osteopathy vs European Style Osteopathy

In North America, the term “osteopathy” refers to American style osteopathic practice that consists of manual therapy, surgery and prescription of medications. This type of “osteopathy” is provided only in USA. Those who practice American style osteopathy (osteopathic medicine)  are called osteopaths or osteopathic physicians, and those who provide manual treatment are called osteopathic manual practitioners.

Outside USA, the term “osteopathy” refers to a profession that provides only manual therapy, without performing surgery or prescribing medications. In Canada other terms such as “European style osteopathy” and “manual osteopathy” are also used  to describe those who provide osteopathic manual treatment. The only exception is the province of Quebec in Canada where manual osteopaths are permitted to use the title "osteopath".  

In all other countries outside North America, both American style osteopaths (osteopathic physicians) and European style osteopaths (osteopathic manual practitioners) are called osteopaths.

In summary, European style osteopathic manual practitioners do not prescribe medications or perform surgery. American style osteopaths (also known as osteopathic physicians) perform surgery, prescribe medications, and use osteopathic techniques to manage the condition of patients.