AIBU - use of ‘Dr’ title - is this normal?!

[Cheesecake45]

Just not sure if I need to get with the times or not - is it normal to go by the title ‘Dr’ simply for having a PhD, if you aren’t in the medical profession? I’m talking one of the easiest PhDs to get (comparatively speaking), nothing vaguely linked to medicine.

AIBU??
YES = this is totally normal get over yourself
NO = wouldn’t be caught dead calling myself a doctor unless I could be assistance in a medical emergency!

Become a Quaker…no titles used

@Motcouk

A dentist can and usually is a dental surgeon.
This means they are experienced in surgery (removing teeth, cutting into jaw bones, some doing facial work after serious accidents) and some use a full anaesthetic (not much now)

You’ve worked hard! Use Dr and be proud!

Lots of my friends have PhDs and I never use Dr (or any other title) when writing to them. I also have a PhD and my friends don't use Dr on any correspondence to me. When writing to someone for professional reasons I would use the appropriate title however.

If someone introduced themselves as doctor doctor surname, I'd assume they had a stutter.

I'm happy to call my dentist Dr. It doesn't cost me anything. It's courteous to use their courtesy title and discourteous not to. And they earned it, by 5/6 years hard study - the same level of study as the medical doctors. I'm also happy to call a surgeon Mr as it's the custom of their tribe. I've no problem with using Dr for anyone who has earned it through full-time higher education and research lasting 5+ years in total.

What I do have a problem with are the pseuds who use honorary or mickey mouse mail-order "degrees" as if they're the real thing, e.g. Gillian McKeith, Ian Paisley and Anne-Marie Imafidon (Ms Imafidon father, Chris Imafidon, pretends to be a professor on the basis of nothing at all, so the apple didn't fall far from the tree). There's a very clear convention that you shouldn't use the title Dr if you only have an honorary doctorate. I'm not a fan of honorary doctorates, but the institutions who are so unwise as to award them should at least put in the conditions of acceptance that if you style yourself as Dr, then the degree will be revoked.

You are completely misunderstanding what Dr means and has always meant OP.
By definition the title 'Dr' means you have a PhD.
The medical title Dr is purely honorary (unless a medical Dr also has a PhD as well as a medical degree).

People with PhDs are the genuine Dr's but the title has become more associated with medicine even though that is only honorary.

Of course it's 'normal'. A title you've earned makes far more sense than an 'honorary' one, or for women, one denoting your marital status.

I didn't start out using mine as a matter of course, but now use it in most contexts. The main reason is I'm tired of that irritating question 'is that Miss or Mrs?'

The beauty of an androgynous title is that, as I've discovered, if you sign certain communication with simply the title and a first initial, you're far more likely to receive a favourable reply.

If I had my way, we'd dispense with titles entirely. As 'computer says no' in nearly every instance to that option, I will continue to use 'Dr'.

Even for women?

The extent of the belief on here that physicians are the only genuine holders of the title Dr is extraordinary.

No physician without a doctorate (most GPs, Junior Doctors and non surgical consultants) has anything other than an honorary title.

In every sector but medical ones, I am Roses Hellebores (shops, services, accountant, solicitor, etc). In all of those sectors the person with whom I deal introduces themselves as: John, Mary, etc. The relationship is equal. No other profession expects another stakeholder to address them with a title whilst using the customer/clients first name. Even our Vice Chancellor is John rather than Professor Smith.

In hospitals and GP practices throughout the UK it is 99.9% assumed by doctors (with an honorary rather than earnt title) that I shall address them with the respect and courtesy of their title but they may assume and indeed may use my first name. They may not unless they introduce themselves with their first name. A quarter of the way through the 21st Century it is basic good manners and basic courtesy to address another as you expect to be addressed. Notwithstanding a nod to equality.

I find the way in which many medical doctors address their patients to be reductive. I am not their subordinate by virtue of being their patient. The vibe and arrogance that arises from having the occupation just does not exist in academia.

It would be really helpful in the UK if GPs and non surgical consultants referred more to themselves as Physicians rather than appropriating an academic title as the name of their occupation. And a title most are not entitled to use.

Of course they do! It’s in the name. But then I work at a university.

no I’m saying the opposite. Medical doctors are taught at uni when med students by plenty of non medical PhD holders and profs etc. General public might get confused but doctors realise that academics have a PhD and why they’re called Dr in a professional environment. Someone on here upset when dentists use Dr but I don’t mind as long as they do a good job on my teeth!

But a lot of doctors find it cringe to use the title outside of work anyways, some love it however. Each to their own. If people want to use the title go for it.

I don't make my friends and family use it, but I do use Dr on bills etc - I didn't change my name when I got married, and I hate people defaulting to calling me Mrs Maiden-name as I am not my mother.

It sounds to me like you are suffering a bit from imposter syndrome. You have a PhD, you have earnt the title as much as someone who did a medical degree (who often haven't studied to PhD level themselves anyway).

I agree. There was a furore about Jill Biden using the title Dr because she has a PhD (not a meducal degree) and I assumed it was because the US education system is generally so poor that most Americans don't understand the title.

Unfortunately, it would appear we have a similar issue in this country.

IKR?

It's like when women make sure everyone outside their home and/or marriage knows they are a 'Mrs'. As if their ability to grab themselves a fella is actually some kind of achievement. If that's the pinnacle of your life, best to keep it to yourself, right? Red flag for sure

Psychiatrists are doctors so definitely no issue with it at all. Clinical Psychologists have a doctorate and have always traditionally had access to Dr title.

It’s when a nurse consultant gets a PhD and then uses the title Dr at work and introduces themselves as “the consultant” which is misleading for patients that I don’t like.

I’m so glad it’s helped your DD, it’s good to make patients feel comfortable, I go by first name at work. Although as a female Dr I do think maybe my life would be easier if I said I was Dr Surname as patients always assume I’m a nurse. Nothing wrong with people a nurse, they’re fantastic. But it’s annoying when patients assume female doctors are non medics.

It is very sad that some schools would “ take the piss.” It goes to show that some children are denied the attitudes and values that lead to higher education right from the start. It’s a pity because some of them might be quite capable and inspired if it wasn’t ridiculed in their immediate environment.

I mean that’s fine. But in all my years of practice I’ve never had a patient be ask to be called by Mr Smith etc, I go by first name so why would I call them Mr Smith? I might call a more elderly person that but younger generations don’t care. I’ll call them what makes them happy, but I’ve never had a patient ask to be called Mrs Jones.

I'm a PhD and I use the title. If there was a more neutral female title like Mr without the baggage of (Miss, Ms, Mrs) I'd likely use this, but there isn't. Also, I'd hate people to think I had 'wife' (Mrs) on my CV.

This is what I'd struggle with too. I really dislike honorary or inherited titled so would also have to rule out Lord, Lady, Your Royal Heinous (my spelling) etc . I think the only option would be to develop an amazing singing career and become a one name pop icon along the lines of "Madonna" or "Beyoncé'

A poster said that it was a shame people were looking down on people with PhDs but that's not true as I don't think anyone has said that. Saying that you wouldn't use Doctor outside of work (for a medical or PhD Dr) doesn't mean you don't admire them for being a doctor.

It’s an interesting one. A friend who is a medical doctor told me that in her hospital this is much discussed- the best way to strike a balance between approachability and authority. Some patients are reassured by the fact that they are talking to Dr Smith rather than John. My friend tends to say “I’m Alice, I’m a doctor” although I think they are supposed to say “I’m Doctor Alice” (that being apparently more approachable than Dr Smith).

(Context of this discussion was my surprise at doctors introducing themselves to me as “I’m Doctor Sarah, the baby doctor” rather than paediatrician, which apparently is necessary because some patients hear “paediatrician” and think “paedophile”.)

If you have a doctorate then you have every right to use the title Dr regardless of what subject your PhD is in.
That's why it's called a doctorate. A medical doctorate is only one of many.
There is nothing weird or pretentious about it.

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade and appreciate the work that goes into obtaining these things, but really it's become another degree, which many, many people have. Would you place the letters, BA, MA at the end of your name?

Are you comparing 'getting a man' (let's face it, any idiot can get one of these) to the years of work involved in getting a PhD? Really?

I think it's fine, if you have earned the title of Doctor, why shouldn't you use it?

Also, not referring to this issue specifically but I personally dislike the notion of hiding something which is worthwhile purely for the fear of being considered a "show off". That mentality devalues things which are real achievements.

I think using a title is a bit cringe whether it's medical or Phd.

My DH has a PhD. Worked his ass off for it. He goes by Dr on all forms, as he's earned the title. He is, however, affectionately known in our house as Dr Idiot.