To sign up at the surgery as ‘Dr’

[Chocolatebutton43]

I got my PhD two months ago, moved to a new place and signed up to a new doctor’s surgery and dental practice.

Filling in the forms, I got a bit carried away with my new title and ticked the ‘dr’ box! I’ve been doing it a lot lately for silly little things partly ‘cause I’m just happy to have finished and passed my degree and also because I relish that I am no longer defined by my marital status.

But, I now need to visit the surgery and I feel like an idiot. The form also had occupation so the doctor will know I’m not a medical doctor. Is he/she going to think I am a total prat for using Dr outside my work and at the doctor’s surgery of all places? Cringe

It is however hilarious that they are allowed to use the title Dr even though they haven't got a doctorate and that they then think people who actually do have doctorates are "pretending" to have a qualification they haven't got

I don’t think anyone thinks people with doctorates are pretending to have qualifications. Just that they get mistaken for being a doctor by profession!

*Yes, because being a doctor is their profession and occupation.

If asked ‘so what do you do?’ socially it’s quite normal for a medical doctor to say ‘I’m a doctor’ (or add on their speciality eg ‘I’m a Registrar in Orthopaedics’)

Whereas a lecturer or researcher would describe their occupation/profession as that, not say ‘I’m a doctor’. Maybe they drop into the conversation they have a PhD if it comes up?*

What i meant was “hi, I’m Dr X” in a social setting.

I’d never say “i’m a Doctor”, because I’m not. However if I’m in a setting where titles are necessary, I’ll use Dr. Because I am not Miss or Mrs.

Rare in a social setting these days, but it happens.

Academic ‘doctors’ don’t share the same history? Studying for a PhD is far more recent.

Someone who hasn't done the basic research on the subject... academic 'doctors' of law and divinity predate the application to (some) physicians.

Is it a protected title anyway? Or can anyone call themselves Dr on a form, the way they can tick the box that says ‘Lord/Lady’?

Interesting question. It isn't protected in the way that District Nurse or Dentist is, as far as I'm aware. E.g. people who treat horses' teeth cannot call themselves dentists but are officially equine dental technicians. However, you can get into hot water if you misrepresent your qualifications cf. the row Gillian McKeith got into when she used the title 'Dr'.

Generally in the UK it is expected that if you are using the title 'Dr' you have a PhD from an accredited university, or a medical qualification (whereas if you have a surgical qualification you're more likely to stick with Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms). But as far as I can work out it isn't illegal just to use the title, so long as you're not trying to do it for fraudulent purposes e.g. gaining a job.

@Janegrey333 always does this, every post is negative. I imagine her to be a v lonely, bored, but sadly also bitter woman

How amusing. Totes wrong. But if it makes you feel better about your existence do continue - or read a Dickensian novel where poor urchins abound!

@RattleOfBars

No, that's not what she said. What's funny is the inversion that's happened re who is deemed entitled to use Dr.

Why is it funny? Medical doctors have been referred to as doctors/physicians for centuries, introduced as ‘Dr. (name)’.

Academic ‘doctors’ don’t share the same history? Studying for a PhD is far more recent.

It's the other way round .Dr has been an academic title since the 13th century. It started to be used by people who practice medicine later on and it is a "courtesy" title if they don't have doctorates. It's not even used by medical practitioners in many countries and is not used by surgeons in this country.

Ok I checked debretts out of interest and guess what.....?

The correct form of address for both medical and PhD graduates in both social and formal settings is...

Dr X....

So not a “dick move”, pretentious, or ideas above our station. It’s the correct use of title.

@RattleOfBars

It is however hilarious that they are allowed to use the title Dr even though they haven't got a doctorate and that they then think people who actually do have doctorates are "pretending" to have a qualification they haven't got

I don’t think anyone thinks people with doctorates are pretending to have qualifications. Just that they get mistaken for being a doctor by profession!

Only by people like you who don't know the facts. I work in the university hospital and nobody assumes that people with the title of "dr" are medics. Some are but some are academics.

academic 'doctors' of law and divinity predate the application to (some) physicians

What I meant was the term ‘doctor’ has commonly referred to a medical physician throughout history, not someone with a PhD. I’m sure there were a few ‘doctors of law and divinity’ but suspect they were few and far between.
Not many people had the opportunity to study for PhDs and doctorates until modern times.

If you are British you spell practise with an S because it is a verb. The noun is practice with a C.
If you are in the US, where English is less idiosyncratic, then use C for both.

How difficult can it be?

Why is it funny? Medical doctors have been referred to as doctors/physicians for centuries, introduced as ‘Dr. (name)’.

Academic ‘doctors’ don’t share the same history? Studying for a PhD is far more recent.

Wrong again. Come on, at least do some research

@RattleOfBars

academic 'doctors' of law and divinity predate the application to (some) physicians

What I meant was the term ‘doctor’ has commonly referred to a medical physician throughout history, not someone with a PhD. I’m sure there were a few ‘doctors of law and divinity’ but suspect they were few and far between.
Not many people had the opportunity to study for PhDs and doctorates until modern times.

They haven't been referred to as doctors throughout history. They were called physicians, hence "the Royal College of physicians"rather than the "Royal College of doctors".

Not many people had the opportunity to study for PhDs and doctorates until modern times.

Relatively recent times, in fact. Universities love financial opportunities.

Ok I checked debretts out of interest and guess what.....?

Isn’t Debretts a bit out-dated? It was the go-to book for Finishing Schools (popular places for young ladies of well to do families to learn appropriate social etiquette, along with flower arranging and hosting cocktail parties!)

Not many people had the opportunity to study for PhDs and doctorates until modern times.

Not many people had the opportunity to study at university full stop until very recently. Even in the 1960s only 6% of the population went to university.

What I meant was the term ‘doctor’ has commonly referred to a medical physician throughout history, not someone with a PhD. I’m sure there were a few ‘doctors of law and divinity’ but suspect they were few and far between.
Not many people had the opportunity to study for PhDs and doctorates until modern times

“Doctor” stems from the latin “to teach”. It was an academic title, stemming from the 13th century.

So originally it was a licence to teach, an academic title, and nothing to do with medicine.

Dr as a title for physicians wasn’t a thing until the 19th century. Royal college of physicians officially recognised Dr for medical practitioners in 1838.

What I meant was the term ‘doctor’ has commonly referred to a medical physician throughout history, not someone with a PhD. I’m sure there were a few ‘doctors of law and divinity’ but suspect they were few and far between.

As soon as someone uses the term 'throughout history' you know they're talking waffly bollocks.

Relatively recent times, in fact. Universities love financial opportunities.*

Universities love expanding the sum of human knowledge. It takes funds to do so, especially in fields where serious equipment is needed. Applying for research grants is the bane of academics' lives as far as I can tell, but needs must.

I don't know about other fields but I don't think I know any practicing scientists inside or outside of academia who are in it primarily for the money.

Pigeons and chess spring to mind on this thread. There's no point debating with people who can't even formulate their own arguments into coherent, factual statements.

Fgs. This is seriously what our world has come to.

Fuck me, we’re in more trouble than I thought.

Hiding now because I can’t bear to witness it any longer.

@RattleOfBars

Ok I checked debretts out of interest and guess what.....?

Isn’t Debretts a bit out-dated? It was the go-to book for Finishing Schools (popular places for young ladies of well to do families to learn appropriate social etiquette, along with flower arranging and hosting cocktail parties!)

Lol🤭

@ErrolTheDragon

* Relatively recent times, in fact. Universities love financial opportunities.*

Universities love expanding the sum of human knowledge. It takes funds to do so, especially in fields where serious equipment is needed. Applying for research grants is the bane of academics' lives as far as I can tell, but needs must.

I don't know about other fields but I don't think I know any practicing scientists inside or outside of academia who are in it primarily for the money.

Yes, I can see that is the case in the field of science. Fair point.

‘I don’t think anyone thinks people with doctorates are pretending to have qualifications. Just that they get mistaken for being a doctor by profession!’

Only by people like you who don't know the facts. I work in the university hospital and nobody assumes that people with the title of "dr" are medics. Some are but some are academics.

Which facts do you think I’m lacking?
I work in a hospital (albeit not a training one) and the only people who use the title Dr are the medical doctors. With the exception of a couple of clinical psychologists who use ‘Dr (insert name) Specialist Clinical Psychologist’ on their email signature. They don’t verbally introduce themselves as ‘Dr Jean’ just ‘Jean the Psychologist’ to staff and patients (not real name). The MDT is made up of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, students etc. We all understand some people with PhDs use the title ‘Dr’ but if a non-medic walked into handover and introduced himself as ‘Dr Sam’ people would be confused, even the consultants! He’d likely be mistaken for a new F1 or 2.

Then take the average person in the U.K., who hasn’t been through university education let alone to PhD/doctorate level. Is it so hilarious they might assume a ‘doctor’ is a medical doctor?

My opinion of academics has plummeted thanks to this thread.