Nurses With Doctorates Cannot Tell Patients They’re Doctors, Court Rules

[Taurus]

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Nurses With Doctorates Cannot Tell Patients They’re Doctors, Court Rules​

California's federal court ruled that nurses with doctorates cannot use the title "Dr" in healthcare settings, citing potential patient confusion. The decision supports state law, emphasizing clarity in professional titles to protect patients.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Nurses With Doctorates Cannot Tell Patients They’re Doctors, Court Rules​

California's federal court ruled that nurses with doctorates cannot use the title "Dr" in healthcare settings, citing potential patient confusion. The decision supports state law, emphasizing clarity in professional titles to protect patients.

Thank goodness

 

[gutonc]

Thank goodness

...if you live in California

 

[DrMetal]

Who cares? They can still see patients, prescribe, and pontificate, like the rest of us!

We're not addressing the root of the problem here.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Who cares? They can still see patients, prescribe, and pontificate, like the rest of us!

We're not addressing the root of the problem here.

Well, exactly. A lot of patients don’t even really care who they see as their “provider”. So on some level I’m not sure why they care about calling themselves “doctor”, they already basically have all the rights and privileges afforded to physicians in many states anyway…

 

[DrMetal]

Well, exactly. A lot of patients don’t even really care who they see as their “provider”. So on some level I’m not sure why they care about calling themselves “doctor”, they already basically have all the rights and privileges afforded to physicians in many states anyway…

Yeah . . . and we (physicians) are too stupid to see the actual situation. We perseverate over stupid labels and board certification while the entire profession of 'physician' is dwindling away.

I am happy about the law, don't get me wrong. If, in the same light, we can get another law that banishes MOC . . .then I'd be very grateful (and may have something positive to say, for once).

 

[comp1]

I'd definitely take a ruling banishing MOC as an unfair trade practice over this, but it's nice. I'm as pro-NP as physicians get and I definitely don't think they are bringing down medicine in general, but I do think clarity is important. Indeed, I wouldn't want Jill Biden describing herself as a doctor in a clinical setting either. In an academic setting the title Dr. for a DNP would be entirely appropriate and I would certainly use it. It's 100% about the setting.

 

[LucidSplash]

I personally think a non-pejorative use of the word “Noctor” should be embraced by NPs in this context. I think they should be proud of their nursing background and want to differentiate themselves from medical doctors. It’s a missed opportunity for them from a marketing perspective.

 

[hallowmann]

Well, exactly. A lot of patients don’t even really care who they see as their “provider”. So on some level I’m not sure why they care about calling themselves “doctor”, they already basically have all the rights and privileges afforded to physicians in many states anyway…

Despite what you and others say, a lot of patients actually DO care. Some people are becoming more aware of it and purposefully avoiding non-physicians. This is why this even got as far as it did.

That said, its too little too late. The system has too much riding on them. The only way I see them dwindling is with oversaturation. Realistically, what we likely see is NP+AI replaced doctor, sometime in the next 30 yrs is my guess.

 

[agranulocytosis]

Despite what you and others say, a lot of patients actually DO care. Some people are becoming more aware of it and purposefully avoiding non-physicians. This is why this even got as far as it did.

That said, its too little too late. The system has too much riding on them. The only way I see them dwindling is with oversaturation. Realistically, what we likely see is NP+AI replaced doctor, sometime in the next 30 yrs is my guess.

I have an increasing number of patients coming to me from other practices because they see an NP and "haven't seen a doctor yet."