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Both the medical and legal professions engaged in “degree inflation” when awarding “doctorates” for degrees that don’t meet the academic qualifications for a tr
by JCM9 6y ago
Both the medical and legal professions engaged in “degree inflation” when awarding “doctorates” for degrees that don’t meet the academic qualifications for a traditional doctorate degree. The medical profession took it further and wanted to be called “doctor” (traditionally an academic title reserved for those with the highest degrees in a subject, with the title literally meaning “to teach.”)
The medical community makes a big deal about the title thing and it’s broadly rooted in attempts by previous generations of physicians to be seen as a respected and legitimate profession. Until well into the early 20th century that was a struggle for physicians, who were often viewed as crack pots that engaged in wild unscientific practices—-because that was true for many. Medical school was a joke at the time by modern standards.
So for all the reasons above when any physician tries to suggest that a physician is the only “real doctor” you can roll your eyes and suggest they crack open a history book and then let them go back to stroking their own ego.
JDs never really went the same path but did take up this odd practice of using “Esquire.” Elsewhere in the world Esq is typically used to formally address young gentlemen without any other title. If your teenage son gets a bank account in the UK their the statements will come addressed to Joe Blogs Esq. To anyone with broader worldwide exposure to titles, this makes the use of the title by lawyers in the US hilarious because it makes the person look like they’re taking the title of some kid in the UK.
- tryptophan 6y ago>So for all the reasons above when any physician tries to suggest that a physician is the only “real doctor” you can roll your eyes and suggest they crack open a history book and then let them go back to stroking their own ego. I think you are misunderstanding what their issue is. They aren't mad about people calling themselves 'doctors' in general society, but in a medical setting. You have nurses, PAs, chiropractors, naturopaths all calling themselves a 'doctor' in a medical setting, all trying to associate themselves with the rigor and expertise an MD would grant. As to the origin of the title in a medical setting, you may be right, but it has been used that way for a long time now. Being pedantic about its usage isn't helpful when there are lots of bad actors trying to confuse people by referring to its commonly understood meaning.
- JCM9 6y agoYou bring up an interesting angle which is that the title inflation thing in the US now has secondary and tertiary implications. Optometrists call themselves “doctors” as do chiropractors and others. Increasingly it seems medical facilities just go back to the root and put someone’s degree in giant letters on their badge. “MD” “RN” etc. And the public at large increasingly just calls all these people “your healthcare provider” instead of “your doctor.” In essence physicians are upset at others (optometrists, chiropractors, and such) doing exactly what medical school graduates did in previous generations... insist on people calling them “doctoral to gain more recognition with the public at large. When you know the history it’s all quite amusing. However if random people are running in providing unqualified expertise to patients in a medical practice though that suggests there are far bigger problems to be dealt with than title games. The “doctor” thing is just a red herring.
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- Spivak 6y agoI typically just use doctor to mean “person who takes primary responsibility for medical treatment” in any setting. They’re the person in the room who has decision making power and responsibility for those decisions. I didn’t even realize that people were weird about using doctor to refer to people without an MD. Because DOs are definitely doctors too, why not an OD or DDS?
- epmaybe 6y agoDDS at least in the US typically do part of medical school including clinical clerkships and have a residency to complete. Maybe you’re thinking of DMD?
- ardy42 6y ago>> So for all the reasons above when any physician tries to suggest that a physician is the only “real doctor” you can roll your eyes and suggest they crack open a history book and then let them go back to stroking their own ego. > As to the origin of the title in a medical setting, you may be right, but it has been used that way for a long time now. Being pedantic about its usage isn't helpful when there are lots of bad actors trying to confuse people by referring to its commonly understood meaning. I wouldn't exactly call it pedantic, just wrong. It's little more than appeal to the remote past as true and correct, which treats and changes or innovations since then as illegitimate. Also, IIRC, the physician = "real doctor" thing is often just a reflection of the respect and familiarity that ordinary people have for physicians, not some kind of pompousness by physicians themselves.
- Balgair 6y ago> To anyone with broader worldwide exposure to titles, this makes the use of the title by lawyers in the US hilarious because it makes the person look like they’re taking the title of some kid in the UK. If we're talking about lawyers and barristers with hilarious conventions, then I think the UK still takes the cake, what with those comical white curly wigs. And yes, I know it was changed in 2008 to allow them not to wear the wig under certain circumstances. It's still absurdly silly though.
- OJFord 6y agoI think it actually marks quite an important distinction from US judges - they are not personalities, they are not individuals, they are not making some personal judgement, they will not be on television. They merely adopt a costume of office, and carry out the duties of that office.
- Lio 6y agoI always find it funny that surgeons in the UK insist on being called Mr/Mrs; they’re no common or garden doctor. No siree, nope, they’re hairdressers from the Royal College of Barber Surgeons no less and you will address them as such. :P