Page 3 | Still called Dr (PhD not medical) after retirement ?

woodpigeons · 2018-05-16T14:18:01+00:00

Just that really. Please settle an argument for me and let me know if it is normal and/or acceptable to do this.

ErrolTheDragon · 18/05/2018 17:32

The thing is - I can't imagine this situation being reversed, that a woman would ask her DH to drop his earned title in a situation where he felt it appropriate to use it.

user2222018 · 18/05/2018 22:12

Chucking the ' Dr ' thing in there by way of correction ("Don't you know who I am?") doesn't cause us to respect you any more than our prior or following patient.

The title doesn't mean anything.

But, certainly I share the experiences of many on this thread of being absolutely patronised. My personal favourite is when medical professionals insist on explaining to me in Mickey Mouse language science that I have spent 20 years studying. Then pointing out what I do in my day job is actually rather effective.

SoFake · 20/05/2018 18:06

I think you might be getting rather one sided opinions seeing as you have asked this question on the academics thread. 😂.

We have both types of Doctors in our family and no one uses their Dr title outside of work.

I would never use either type of Doctor title to try and impress random wanky fuckers from the bank. Why would you bother and why would you care. Imagine if someone let you know that they had a First from Cambridge just so you knew that they were clever. That would be really twatty. I don’t see what the need is to let everyone know you have a PhD.

I think everyone should be very proud of being a Doctor but using it in day to day life it comes across as pompous to me. I think it’s old fashioned.

Having said all that I can’t stand Mrs/Miss/Ms etc.

SoFake · 20/05/2018 18:15

But, certainly I share the experiences of many on this thread of being absolutely patronised. My personal favourite is when medical professionals insist on explaining to me in Mickey Mouse language science that I have spent 20 years studying. Then pointing out what I do in my day job is actually rather effective

How is it patronizing for medical staff to explain things simply when that probably probably suits the majority of the people they talk to. It would only be ‘patronizing’ if they continued to talk to you that way after you had pointed out that you were an expert in the area.

Mashandbangers · 20/05/2018 18:22

🙄🙄 I started off as one of those ‘wankers’ because I had to pay to put myself through education. I worked with a variety of people, one of which had a masters and was a published author. Another studied art in New York for best part of the 80’s. Different paths had ended up working in a call centre, but for the most part we reserved the likes of you who thought the title ‘Dr’ made you ‘cleverer’ than anyone else

reallyanotherone · 20/05/2018 18:25

i would never use either type of Doctor title to try and impress random wanky fuckers from the bank. Why would you bother and why would you care

I don’t volunteer a title. But i do take smug pleasure with a particular brand of male patronising twat when we get to this bit;

Mpt: and what is your name?
Me: it’s firstname surname.
Mpt: is that Miss or Mrs?
Me: it’s Dr.

Then hearing the complete attitude switch from talking to me like a little woman in words of one syllable or less- the type who you know is just desperate to ask me if i’d rather he spoke to my husband- to one of oh fuck, she’s got brains....

user2222018 · 20/05/2018 18:41

How is it patronizing for medical staff to explain things simply when that probably probably suits the majority of the people they talk to. It would only be ‘patronizing’ if they continued to talk to you that way after you had pointed out that you were an expert in the area.

I don't think that the explanations were appropriate for people who studied secondary school science (and like pp I felt there was an element of sexism i.e. it was dumbed down because I am a woman). But medical staff should also respond to the reactions they get i.e. if the patient says they have a scientific background and work in science the conversation should be adjusted accordingly. This was not the case: the conservation continued in a patronising way until I pointed out that not only did I have a scientific background but I also knew about the specific science being discussed.

duchessofsussex · 20/05/2018 18:43

My FIL is still Dr Madeupname despite being age 90 and retired for 30 years!

Tansie1 · 20/05/2018 18:51

Well done, you. user2222018

HTH

Racecardriver · 20/05/2018 18:55

My husband is a Dr. He left academia years ago. Your husband sounds like a bit of a twat. Why would you be Teynham to make him look stupid, more importantly why would your qualifications be a reflection on him?

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 20/05/2018 19:07

not only did I have a scientific background but I also knew about the specific science being discussed.
(It’s even worse when they over-simplify it to such an extent that it’s actually incorrect)

UnimaginativeUsername · 20/05/2018 20:38

I actually like (medical) doctors to talk to me like I know nothing about medicine. It’s quite helpful. My rheumatologist is really good actually as she starts basic and then gives me more medical science info. One of her registrars asked what my research was about and assumed that meant I knew stuff about musculoskeletal systems (I do, but nowhere near enough to be treated differently from any other patient), but I quickly let him know that I needed the basic explanation.

I only ever say ‘it’s Dr’ when someone asks for my title (and not in a snotty way). People often apologise after this for some reason, but I’m never sure what for. The vast majority of women they meet probably select from the Ms/Mrs/Miss so it’s a reasonable assumption that I might do the same.