Is it pretentious for people who studied medicine to insist on being called Doctor This-n'-that?

Question

And while we're on the subject, how about PhDs? Why are they called Doctor?

Addendum: I studied a long time to be who I am professionally too, but I dont think Id introduce myself as Artist Clarkie...

Answer 1

Because they've earned a doctorate. However, I've never met a PhD who insisted on being called "Doctor" outside of an academic setting. Some people prefer it to "Professor". I have a sister who has her PhD in engineering, and she only insists on doctor as a title if you've pissed her off.

Answer 2

In Latin, "doctor" means "teacher", which, in my opinion, means that college professors have a greater right to the title than do physicians practicing medicine outside of a teaching hospital.

The title "Professor" is a politically sensitive term in the academy, since it is usually used for people who teach at the university level but do not have a doctoral degree (like me). There is something like a class issue at work there.

When and if I finish my doctorate, I will introduce myself as Dr (or possibly the Reverend Doctor, depending on my path and the formality of the situation) because I have every intention of teaching. I like this better than the title "Mrs" because having my own accomplishments listed in my name has a better ring to my ears than being attached to a man. That's why I plan on taking his name, after all.

In sum, it's not pretentious to be called Dr, though insisting on it and correcting people when they forget is.

Answer 3

I think in their Personal life, yes it is a bit pretentious. In a professional setting, I don't see a problem with it. But like when people come to their home and address them as Dr, soandso, instead of Mr. so and so, that is obnoxoius.

I think the PHD thing is becasue they have a Doctorate. They get the title Doctor to make them feel important, but in reality, they are not doctors.

Answer 4

Using a person's title and last name is a sign of social distance between you and the person you are addressing. When people insist on having this kind of social distance, they see it as a way to get respect. For example, I know a professor who is a young woman. She feels that the students wouldn't respect her if she allowed them to call her by her first name, so she insists that they call her by her title and last name.

And Ph.D.s are called "Dr." because they have a doctorate. Ph.D. is the short form of "Doctor of Philosophy" more or less.

Answer 5

The basic rule is that "Dr." is used in professional settings only. But medical doctors are more likely to interact with the same people in professional and social settings, so the rule has been stretched.

Also, keep in mind that in Western countries, adults always address each other at the same level of formality. So if you ask other people to call you "Doctor", then you must call them "Mr/Ms/Mrs/Miss". And that includes your patients and your staff.

Note to Raven: I believe that, in the UK, "Mr." is used for surgeons.

Answer 6

Not pretentious at all. Most of them bust their butts for more then 10 years in med school to become a doctor in medicine and we're not even talking about specialization. Same goes for PHD, it takes many years of hard work to obtain one of those. If I had one I'd make Jesus call me Dr.

Answer 7

An intern can be called Doctor, before that I don't think that they are. A PHD is a "Doctor" because they have a Doctorate Degree.

Answer 8

I guess it's a reward after all those years of schooling and long hours dealing with horrible conditions. I don't think it's pretentious at all ...unless they're not really Dr's.

Answer 9

I call my doctor Don as per his request. It's a tradition set in place by universities. Don't they call doctors in Great Britain mister?

Answer 10

they've earned the right to be called Doctor