Agree, you can use it, althuough not very much used in USA.

It is preferrable to use physician instead of doctor.
*the hospital (which) a physician is affiliated with* might be a good solution
Often a physician has a private practice, but is connected with a hospital, where he refers his patient when they require hospitalization. He then treats his patients in that hospital.

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Note added at 1 hr 9 mins (2004-07-09 07:10:02 GMT)
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I would say that a physician attends patients, or attends meetings, seminars etc. but works in, practices in, is affiliated with, or is a consultant at a hospital.

to clarify to the Asker:

my 2 neutrals above
are not
neutrals (or criticisms of)
German & Armaat's answers.
Obviously,
that was why they said "to X's comment" and "re.Y's comment"
(which shows that they were not 'neutrals' to the answerer's answers, but I'll make it clearer, in case it helps...)

For German's answer the neutral was ONLY to K's point about titles for doctors (which, with apologies to K I disagree with).

I gave an Australian reference supporting German's answer, and I do NOT disagree with it.

For Armaat's answer too,
the neutral was ONLY about C's comment (I agree with what C says) to warn the asker that it might be important to be careful about using "attending physician" because, according to the BMJ, it's a particular high rank of physician. It seemed to me that the asker might find that useful information in the translation, in some circumstances, and since it arose out of the comment, it seemed the best place to put it.

Armaat does NOT suggest using "attending physician" but "physician attending",
so Armaat's answer might be fine, as I said.
It does seem that 'Physician' seems to be popular in the US for various sorts of doctor, eg: http://www.medword.com/MedwordStore/PersonalEdge/faq-code.ht... (in the UK physicians are specifically the non-surgical branch of hospital doctors).
I agree with C's comment supporting Armaat's answer (showing that 'attending, etc' are used).

(just to avoid any misunderstanding or offence,
and to clarify for the asker, if there is any doubt!)

All 3 answers (German, Jerrie, Armaat) take sensible approaches, and (to some extent) I would want to know the country and have a few sentences before choosing.


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Note added at 1 day 6 hrs 1 min (2004-07-10 12:02:11 GMT)
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(Armaat isn\'t talking about using attending for hospitals, and suggests some other solutions in different situations - they\'re all acceptable)

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Note added at 1 day 6 hrs 3 mins (2004-07-10 12:04:28 GMT)
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(So are the other answers)

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Note added at 1 day 6 hrs 51 mins (2004-07-10 12:52:14 GMT)
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(And I hope no one is offended, or still feels their answer was being criticized!)

An attending physician is actually on staff at the hospital (i.e. the hospital pays him;her). A physician who has priviledges can have his or her patients admitted to that hospital and treat them there.