Dentists calling themselves Doctors

WillyNelson · 20 Feb 2013 at 12:39

Judgeneo said:
No-one is saying becoming a medical doctor doesn't take a considerable amount of hard work and dedication.

The same or more so than a philosophy doctor. So why can't they be a 'proper' doctor??

dowie · 20 Feb 2013 at 12:44

WillyNelson said:
Get a PhD for writing about medieval lime kilns or abstact critical theory in literature? Ok. Study for 5+ years, learn all about the complex workings of the human body, disease, treatment and prevention, save lives every day? Fraud! Go on to refine your skills for an further 5 years of learning and continual assessment and move into general practice? Even bigger fraud!

Unless you've earned the degree then its just a courtesy title, that's all. The fact that you've studied hard or you do something complicated is irrelevant, there are plenty of other professions out there: engineers, actuaries etc.. who also have to work hard, study complicated things etc... The fact that some wishy washy arts grad can earn the title for contributing original research to an area that is a bit pointless doesn't matter - the title is awarded to people who have earned a doctorate if they've earned the degree then they have every right to use it.

The physicians chose to adopt the courtesy title many years ago and dentists want to do the same these days to bring themselves in line with Europe etc... I don't see the issue with dentists using the courtesy title given that others already do so. I doubt many people are going to be that confused by it(it doesn't cause confusion in other countries) or start asking advice about their upset tummy when they go to get their teeth cleaned.

Freefaller · 20 Feb 2013 at 12:46

aardvark said:
this annoys me - its the medical doctors that are not real doctors, not the other way round. If you have a PhD your title is Dr, its as simple as that.
the medical Dr is only a Dr out of tradition and it is honorary unless they have a medical PhD (relatively rare).

Does this REALLY annoy you? You must be a very uptight person.

A doctor/Dr is a doctor/Dr - I don't care if they are medical or PhD or other doctorate. People do get wound up over the smallest of things.

R.P.L · 20 Feb 2013 at 13:03

Screw it - I'm going to start using the title 'Dr' as it seems anyone can get away with it!

Minstadave · 20 Feb 2013 at 13:43

aardvark said:
this annoys me - its the medical doctors that are not real doctors, not the other way round. If you have a PhD your title is Dr, its as simple as that.
the medical Dr is only a Dr out of tradition and it is honorary unless they have a medical PhD (relatively rare).

Medical doctor - useful member of society.

PhD doctor - ex-grubby post-grad student trying to avoid real work (gross generalisation), even less use than a dentist!

LordSplodge · 20 Feb 2013 at 13:56

smit101 said:
Doesn't surprise me, kicked or punched out?

Neither. It broke and thus needed to come out.

aardvark · 20 Feb 2013 at 14:48

Freefaller said:
Does this REALLY annoy you? You must be a very uptight person.

A doctor/Dr is a doctor/Dr - I don't care if they are medical or PhD or other doctorate. People do get wound up over the smallest of things.

ok maybe not

but people always ask am i a real doctor, erm yes i am, its the medical ones that wrongly use the title.

Brookert · 20 Feb 2013 at 14:51

Minstadave said:
Medical doctor - useful member of society.

PhD doctor - ex-grubby post-grad student trying to avoid real work (gross generalisation), even less use than a dentist!

News just in! Research is useless!!!

jbloggs · 20 Feb 2013 at 14:56

Does it really matter what 'title' a dentist gives themselves, as long as they are good at what they do?

Minstadave · 20 Feb 2013 at 15:07

Brookert said:
News just in! Research is useless!!!

A good chunk of research is useless, the amount of inane PhDs that people do even in good universities is embarrassing.

Energize · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:10

djxput said:
chiropractors - first off there are different schools and only some give out the doctorate but lots of chiropractors try to pass themselves off as 'doctors' even thou through their school they got no such degree; second - the chiropractic regulations states if you call yourself a doctor the people must know you are a doctor of chiropractic and not a MD/gp etc ...

Chiropractic is fraud anyway so it doesn't make much difference.

Energize · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:13

Xordium said:
Sadly typical reaction of someone who can't seem to comprehend humour ...

As for the OP. PhDs are very very hard and should be rightly recognised as so. However, if you think getting a PhD (from a decent institution) is anyway comparable to attaining consultancy (at a decent hospital) then are sorely mistaken. Gaining a consultancy is more life consuming, more competitive and far more demanding. As for dentists well I'll keep my opinion to myself on that one and stick to the two things I have direct experience of.

There's also quite a big difference between getting a medical degree and being a consultant physician!

But it's not the difficulty of the work that defines a PHD anyway it's the nature of it.

Xordium · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:15

smit101 said:
So life consuming that you've had time to post in here 6000 times?

6000 times at an average of 4 per day - all of which after I retired. Not really something to get confused over when a quick look at the profile would have given you a rather simple answer ...

Xordium · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:18

Energize said:
There's also quite a big difference between getting a medical degree and being a consultant physician!

But it's not the difficulty of the work that defines a PHD anyway it's the nature of it.

Which was why I added two important caveats in my post - consultancy at a decent hospital and PhD at a reputable institution.

Freefaller · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:21

aardvark said:
ok maybe not
but people always ask am i a real doctor, erm yes i am, its the medical ones that wrongly use the title.

Ok from that point of view I can understand how that is frustrating - you've worked hard to get that qualification - but to snub others who are "only" medical doctors, or doctors in a different field is a little bit daft to me.

I suppose I could get wound up with BT Engineers calling themselves Engineers (I have an Engineering degree) when they wouldn't know what engineering is. However, they may have done vocational training, or acquired some knowledge and have the aptitude but not the piece of paper to state that they are techincally an engineer or not.

I know some titles are revered by many, and I guess that's down to pride - and that's fine. But also, whilst I do not mean to put down other people's achievements, it could be, quite possibly, that others have also worked hard to get what they have and deserve the similar accolade?

Energize · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:29

Freefaller said:
I suppose I could get wound up with BT Engineers calling themselves Engineers (I have an Engineering degree) when they wouldn't know what engineering is. However, they may have done vocational training, or acquired some knowledge and have the aptitude but not the piece of paper to state that they are techincally an engineer or not.

Sure there's a difference between qualified and certified, but the chance of these BT "engineers" having done equivalent study to an engineering degree and being qualified to do engineering work is less than nothing.

It's like a trained first aider claiming to be a physician.

aardvark · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:43

Freefaller said:
Ok from that point of view I can understand how that is frustrating - you've worked hard to get that qualification - but to snub others who are "only" medical doctors, or doctors in a different field is a little bit daft to me.

I suppose I could get wound up with BT Engineers calling themselves Engineers (I have an Engineering degree) when they wouldn't know what engineering is. However, they may have done vocational training, or acquired some knowledge and have the aptitude but not the piece of paper to state that they are techincally an engineer or not.

I know some titles are revered by many, and I guess that's down to pride - and that's fine. But also, whilst I do not mean to put down other people's achievements, it could be, quite possibly, that others have also worked hard to get what they have and deserve the similar accolade?

i dont snub them, they do an important job and i dont really care if they call themselves dr's or not - its other people dissing those with PhD's for not being 'real' dr's thats annoying.

Xordium · 20 Feb 2013 at 16:50

aardvark said:
i dont snub them, they do an important job and i dont really care if they call themselves dr's or not - its other people dissing those with PhD's for not being 'real' dr's thats annoying.

I am not sure they do it's just another case of a word having a professional or scientific definition and common definition. You keep the definition applied in its area and it's fine move it to the other and it's not.

smit101 · 20 Feb 2013 at 17:34

Xordium said:
6000 times at an average of 4 per day - all of which after I retired. Not really something to get confused over when a quick look at the profile would have given you a rather simple answer ...

Oh raaaaaather! Fair enough doc, no need to get your stethoscope all in a twist!

spudbynight · 20 Feb 2013 at 17:40

My wife used to work in Dental Services for the NHS. Everyone in her department (who oversaw licences, criminal record checks and NHS contracts) made a point of addressing all dentists as Mr. X.

Some of them would try and insist on being called Dr. X at which point it would be pointed out that they didn't have a PhD or a medical degree and as such were not Doctors.

Technically a dentist who calls himself Dr. may be committing a criminal offence. If their intention is to make people think they are a Doctor then they are.