To wonder why we always call doctors by their last name

[Loveandpeace56]

In any other profession this wouldn’t be the case. Even teachers do often refer to themselves by their first names but with a doctor this would never happen.

Well one issue with only using first name is that you are much likely have several people with the same first name.
So Dr John might well be one of 3 Dr John in the surgery. Whereas they would all have different surnames....

I have absolutely no objection to addressing a physician or surgeon as Dr or Mr. I have every objection when they introduce themselves formally and assume they may use my first name. I also object when sitting in outpatients to hearing men called into their appointments as Mr Jones and Mr Smith and women as Jane and Mary. Further, why would a nurse assume he is she may use my first name when they address the clinician as Dr or Mr.

It is an equality issue and in the 21st Century it is wholly unacceptable.

Dr Mary/Dr John is equally bizarre when it is not customary to address somebody as Mrs Jane or Mr Jack in any other sphere.

My mum was a GP (now retired), let's call her Dr Jane Smith.

She said her favourite was to be called Dr Jane - it tended to come from long-time patients who respected her expertise, but felt close to her.

I call my GP Steve.

Oddly enough my ob gyn was a Steve too, and I used his preferred diminutive as well. Consultants as a general rule use Ms/Mr rather than Dr.

Re. this:

'All female teachers are 'Miss' and all male teachers are 'Sir'*.

I know this is the general custom in schools, but there is so much that is wrong with this. Just look at the difference in status between these two titles. Equalising that status could be achieved were female teachers referred to as 'Ma'am' as opposed to 'Miss', and it's politer too. This is one thing the Americans have got right (and we haven't).

I lecture in a university, my students call me by my first name and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I go to a clinic where the consultant goes by his first name, other staff and patients. It stresses me out when I ring up because I feel like I'm being really presumptuous like trying to be his friend or something

My GP calls himself Dr Rob which always confuses me.

As a teacher I never refer to myself by first name, even to parents, and I also call other teachers and TAs "Ms/Mr surname" in the corridor/reception/canteen. Everyone else does too. Even my DH when we taught at the same school called me Mrs surname 😂. It's like a stage name I suppose?
I did teach at a school where all teachers were referred to by firstname, and I didn't mind it, but it's just not the norm in most schools.
I think it's nice to acknowledge someone's title (esp one like Dr) unless they ask you not to.

I agree with both @MarieIVanArkleStinks and @RosesAndHellebores

I used to be a patient at a gp practice in wales where the three partners were brothers all, Dr Williams. To add to the confusion they also looked alike! They all used their first names, Dr Mike, Dr Phil, Dr Chris...........

To keep a professional distance, I would have thought.
As a patient, I would like to be clear who is treating me - surname, jobs title (consultant, registrar etc). “Dr Forename” or just forename is over familiar unless perhaps under the consultant’s care for a very long time.
Equally, I would like to be addressed as Ms Surname unless I state otherwise

@Supermansleftnipple

The only teachers I've ever known to refer to themselves as a first name have been at college rather than in schools, unless it's a recent thing. I would say it's a mark of respect. In the past you wouldn't refer to anyone you respected by their first name so it's just a hangover from that I guess.

Agreed. Teachers are not called by their first name by their pupils / students. The very idea. In fact Miss or Sir are usually expected, too. Kids like to know where they are with the adults who teach them. They don’t want to be your “fwend”; they don’t want to use your first name.

That's rubbish. I introduce myself by my first name every day to all my patients. Doctors are far more likely to use their first name with patients than teachers are with their students.

Similarly, doctors are Dr. Bone or whatever, the medical ones, in any case. It’s that distance thing, again. Why change the practice when it works? Don’t sweat the small stuff.

@confusedpombear

That's rubbish. I introduce myself by my first name every day to all my patients. Doctors are far more likely to use their first name with patients than teachers are with their students.

Just because you do it doesn’t mean it’s “rubbish”.

@Janegrey333 in the OP it was stated that it would never happen that a dr would introduce themselves by their first name. That is rubbish. I do everyday. I don't see your point.

@RosesAndHellebores

I have absolutely no objection to addressing a physician or surgeon as Dr or Mr. I have every objection when they introduce themselves formally and assume they may use my first name. I also object when sitting in outpatients to hearing men called into their appointments as Mr Jones and Mr Smith and women as Jane and Mary. Further, why would a nurse assume he is she may use my first name when they address the clinician as Dr or Mr.

It is an equality issue and in the 21st Century it is wholly unacceptable.

Dr Mary/Dr John is equally bizarre when it is not customary to address somebody as Mrs Jane or Mr Jack in any other sphere.

Same here!

If they use my first name, I use theirs right back.

Often they are very surprised!

It is reductive to use the patient's first name when the Dr expects to be addressed with a title. Nowadays when it happens I ask the Dr why. Sometimes some research indicating patients prefer it is trotted out. The research was published in 1982!

In my experience it's usually younger women Drs who do this.

Clarification:
That should read...doesn’t mean it’s rubbish that other people adhere to the formality.

[quote confusedpombear]**@Janegrey333* in the OP it was stated that it would never* happen that a dr would introduce themselves by their first name. That is rubbish. I do everyday. I don't see your point.[/quote]
See below.

Consultants as a general rule use Ms/Mr rather than Dr.
@MarieIVanArkleStinks
That's not true - the convention is that consultant surgeons only revert back to Ms/Mr once they become consultants
Consultant medics stay as Dr. Throughout their careers.
It's a historic quirk in the U.K. - the reasons for it are explained on www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/surgical-staff-and-regulation/qualifications-of-a-surgeon/#Why

DH only uses Dr in a work context and Mr outside of work because he prefers it.

Please ignore this nonsense!

See below.

I always introduce myself as Dr surname. When I was a newly qualified doctor it helped the patients to know what my role was. As a young female, they didn't always automatically know I was the doctor.
I find it helps keep the professional relationship with a patient. I would always then call the patient by their title and surname- apart from if calling them from a waiting room when it helps to say the full name to avoid confusion!
I am however known by all my colleagues as my first name, regardless of their role despite being a senior clinical manager. My title is purely for the doctor patient relationship

Distance. And they always call me Ms Partyatthepalace, so fair enough.

Teachers usually use surnames in my experience.

In our school teachers are addressed by Ms surname or Mr surname or Ms S if it’s Smith Mr P if it’s Peterson etc.
I had secondary teachers who had PHDs and they used Doctor Surname.
I also know many GPS or paediatricians who go by Dr Sarah or Doctor Jeff etc

@Loveandpeace56 Odd thing to ask.

Why WOULDN'T you call them Doctor 'surname?' I have never called a doctor by the first name/Christian name.

Also, I have never called a teacher by their first name/Christian name.

What an odd thread!

Glad @confusedpombear isn't MY doctor by the way. They sound like hard work.