Is PhD calling himself "Doctor" (in a hospital) misleading?

Question

When he greeted me at my apppointment at a sleep clinic in a prestigious NY hospital, wearing a white coat, he introduced himself as Doctor So-and So. He conducted a 15 minute examination, asking very personal and detailed questions about my medical history and sleep habits.Then another man came in and conducted a physical (neuro) exam. When I got home I googled the first "doctor" and found out he wasn't a medical doctor but has a PhD in Psychology (received 2 years ago) and also a teaches at this fancy hospital.

I think someone wearing a white coat in a hospital setting calling himself "doctor" should be a physician -- or at least explain upfront that he's not a medical doctor but a psychologist (or whatever he is). Am I wrong? Over-sensitive? Or was he misrepresenting himself?

Answer 1

The title doctor is for use in professional settings and a hospital is a professional setting.

No, he's not misrepresenting himself. Rather, you've learned something you didn't know before: that PhDs work in hospitals too.

Answer 2

He does have the right to call himself Doctor, even in a hospital setting. He did earn the right, he went to college.
However, you as the patient has the legal right to know exactly who is taking care of you, and why. You have the right to question anyone or anything.
Here's how it should have gone. "Hello, my name is Dr. John Smith, I am a psychiatrist on the staff of this sleep clinic. I am hired to interview each and every sleep study patient, to see how we might be of help to you. There are many causes of sleep disorders, and I am here to help find out the cause of your sleep problem[s]."
You also have the right to know if you are participating in some sort of a reasearch program. And he should have said so, up front, if you were. Any kind of data gathering that is leaving the hospital, for instance to a university study program, would require a signed permit by you.
A lot of specialty units employ psychiatrists, or psychologists. I work in physical rehab [strokes, brain injuries, brain injuries, terrible diseases and accidents], and we had a staff psychologist.
It is not to late to see what he was doing. Just call, or ask the doctor who ordered the test. "Hey, just wondering, a psychiatrist interviewed me, is he on staff there? Does he interview all the sleepstudy patients?"

Answer 3

The PhD is a doctor and has every right to be addressed and considered as a doctor. However, I am surprised that he did not introduce himself as a psychologist.

May have been an oversight, or an assumption that you were aware of what he does.

Answer 4

A PhD is a doctoral degree. I think you are being over sensitive. Most physicians at sleep clinics will be psychologists, neurologists and such. I would'nt be too concerned.

Answer 5

In my opinion it is misleading for him to call himself a doctor if he doesn't have an MD, although many psychologists do not. He was within his right to do so though. Inotherwords, he has all the necessary qualifications to examine and treat you. You shouldn't worry that he isn't as well trained in his field as a medical doctor.

Answer 6

I believe he has a right to call himself a doctor, However, I am with you. His title, in a hospital setting, is confusing.

Answer 7

I don't think its misleading at all. I think your preconceived notion of the title of doctor (MD) as opposed to doctor (PhD) just got the best of you. If you have any doubts in the future, simply ask what his/her specialty is.

Answer 8

Over-sensitive, unless his "personal and detailed questions" went beyond what he needed; although he may have been compiling your entire medical history. Nurses do that, and they have far less education.