When did everyone become a doctor?

[pollyglot]

Just that really.
Years ago, you were a doctor if:
a) you had medical degree
b) you had a Ph.D. Though strangely, many women were still called "Mrs".

Suddenly, dentists began to call themselves "doctor". As did vets. Then the practice (prescribing) nurse had "Dr. Joy Full" on her door, and now I see the physio is Dr. Payne-Legge.

I seem to remember that in Italy, lawyers are "dottore/dottoressa" (might be wrong), and anyone with a degree in Japan is entitled to be addressed as "sensei".
Yes yes, I know that "doctor" simply means "someone with learning" from the Latin.
Meanwhile, surgeons remain "Mr./Ms. McCUTcheon".

Will those attaining a 3rd in Media Studies soon be eligible to join the elite?

@Spidey66 tree surgeons may not be doctors 😉 but they do a very important job!! One local to me often, free of charge, helps to rescue cats stuck up trees. So he may not be a doctor but he's certainly a hero 🥰🥰

We have a local physio who has a PhD in a non-medical subject who calls themselves Dr X. Patients get very confused as they are clearly not explaining that they are not a medical Dr, and the patients often tell me they have already seen a specialist. I think this is dangerous and probably unethical enough that they should be reported.

No. (It's usually five years btw.) A medical degree is a bachelors in level.

I knew a nurse who went by "Dr" professionally as she had a PhD. She's "Professor" these days, though.

I don’t think so, a medical degree is 5 years (if it’s six, there’s an intercalated year of extra study at BSc level or MSc, and the degree is awarded separately), which once you take off elective (faffing around in the Bahamas) is 4.5 years really.

The PhD is awarded for advancing knowledge at an appropriate level (i.e. research to find new stuff) and once you have it you are considered an expert in your field of study, not just learning what is already known.

Technically anyone who has a doctorate can be referred as a doctor, however, this title can cause confusion as the general associate with medics. Psychologist often use this title - I think it can create confusion.

Actually I'm wrong! A medical degree was reclassified two years ago from level 6 to a level 7 by FHEQ!

Psychologists do have doctoral level quals though - at least Ed Psychs and Clin Psychs do. Otherwise they're Assistant Psychologsists.

So equivalent of a Master’s degree then. I think that makes sense. A 4 year undergrad is usually conferred as MChem/MPhys/MCompSci etc integrated master’s. Makes sense if the undergrad degree is 5 years.

They have PhDs.

Well the ones whose qualifications I've seen anyway who call themselves "Dr".

I’m very pleased to see vets are now using the title “Dr”. I have long thought I would rather be treated by a vet than most GPs, the patient is treated with far more respect and the end of life care far better.

I’m a psychologist. I use the title Dr as I have a doctorate - not a research doctorate (phd) but a 3 year post grad with placements and a bit of research. Almost all clinical psychologist in the uk will be the same Some people who have been qualified 30+ years might not because before that the course was a masters.

Sometimes trainee clinical psychologist (currently on placement to get the above vocational doctorate) already have a psychology phd and ask to use their Dr title in work. They are apparently ok to do so but I don’t like it. It’s not a doctorate in the job they are doing right now.

I must admit that I’m suspicious of anyone in the health field using Dr at all, other than in non-practice situations, if they’re not a physician. It has a very clear meaning in most people’s minds and means a properly qualified doctor of medicine.

Why use it if the person isn’t a doctor?

A physio or dentist could have a Pnd and therefore call themselves doctor.
A relative of mine has history Phd and calls himself Dr .... ......... because he's entitled too.

Thanks for the comments, folks.
The nurse in question ("Dr." Joy Full) did her RN training years ago, and then a Bachelor of Nursing more recently. She definitely does not have a doctorate. She googled "shoulder pain" when my DH visited about a torn rotator cuff. He and I both knew what the problem was.
If the physio has a Ph.D., she is very coy about it, not displaying her diploma on the wall beside her B.Sc (second class).
For the poster who said that her dentist husband who sometimes does surgery and deserves the utmost respect and the title "doctor", surgeons are called "Mr/Ms". An anomaly from the past when a surgeon was a barber/surgeon as he was the only occupation who was skilled with a sharp knife (other than a butcher, of course...)

Are you in the UK @pollyglot? It is really unusual for clinicians in the UK to display their certificates on their clinic room wall.

Bringmelaughter.
No, I'm not.

And if you believe someone in healthcare in the UK to be misrepresenting themselves, please report to their professional body. You can do this online.

It seems very odd. I tend to see clinicians under representing their achievements (I.e nurses, physios, pharmacists, etc reluctant to highlight their PhD than misusing Dr status. Seems odd you’re experiencing this.

Ah ok, that makes sense. There is very tight regulation of health related titles in the UK. Perhaps that isn’t the case in the country you’re experiencing this in.

Neighbour is midwife, gained her PhD (relevant to midwifery) and is currently a professor.

A relative also has a PhD, MSc, all physiotherapy related research.

Both are absolute experts in their fields, published academic authors, visiting lecturers etc. It's not a courtesy title, it's one they have earned.

I have no issue at all with PhDs being addressed as "doctor", of course!!!!

Please don't keep telling me indignantly of some relative who has a Ph.D. and is entitled...I GET IT, OK? Of course there are nurses, vets, pharmacists, physios, midwives, lawyers, teachers and street sweepers who hold a Ph.D. Fine and dandy.

I repeat, there seem to be professions which have adopted "doctor" as their nomenclature, when previous generations did not. In other words, academic qualifications seem to have been boosted on the basis that "(medical) doctors hold bachelors' degrees, therefore anyone in a medical field with a bachelor's should be entitled to be 'doctor', too." Viz-vets, dentists, physios, prescribing nurses. It never used to be that way. I'm curious, that's all.

I'm sure you don't @pollyglot . I was thinking about this last night though, with reference to those academic Doctors, and think there are probably more of them around these days because of the surge in places in higher ed generally. When DH got his back in 1986 or something very few people got first degrees let alone going further. And if you browse sites for PhDs you'll find hundreds and hundreds on offer, though not all are funded by any means. So generally (and I know this isn't what you're talking about) there are more PhDs around.
Also a friend who works at the UN jokes that she's the most unqualified employee there with her bog standard undergrad degree; most have Masters, and many have PhDs. Another friend in the Foreign Office echos this.

might also have a PHD ? I have two nurse colleagues who can call themselves Dr. One does , one doesn't.

((groan)) Do you mean the nurse? No she doesn't. Please read my previous post.

Do you mean the physio? Please read my previous post.

I’m sure they do. I just wouldn’t call them a doctor just because they are surgeons!!! eta this was aimed @LakeTiticaca

And to the person who asked if I was in the UK, yes I am. While I haven’t given it much thought I have always assumed they do dental surgery and have always seen them as doctors for that reason