Pharmacists are doctors but they aren't?

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Revolver

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Just out of curiousity... why don't we refer to pharmacists as Dr.? We know that technically they are doctors.. but nobody ever says Dr. Walton, will you hand me the Xanax?

It's not important, but hell, if I get my pharmd, I will require my staff to address me as Dr. 😀

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the obvious answer is that most of the public equate the term "doctor" with "physician".

pharmacists aren't physicians, and as such, some of the public are less apt to refer to a pharmacist using the doctor title.
 
Oh no 😱 not this again!!! Where is that search mode???? 😡

if I get my pharmd, I will require my staff to address me as Dr.

Oh - and good luck with this attitude...... 😉
 
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I am a lawyer and I have a JD (Juris Doctor) degree. I don't expect to be called "Dr.".
 
Hasn't this topic been beaten to death in this forum already??
 
Revolver said:
Just out of curiousity... why don't we refer to pharmacists as Dr.? We know that technically they are doctors.. but nobody ever says Dr. Walton, will you hand me the Xanax?

It's not important, but hell, if I get my pharmd, I will require my staff to address me as Dr. 😀

WHOOOO CAAAARES? 😴
 
Revolver said:
It's not important, but hell, if I get my pharmd, I will require my staff to address me as Dr. 😀

With that attitude you might be prepared to expect more than a few people to address you as "dingus".
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
I'm gonna make my staff call me "King Frazier."

Just King? I'm rather disappointed, I thought His Holy Roman Emperor Czar Khan Frazier I has a nice flop off the tongue ring! Monogramming your jacket will be a challenge unless you're into the whole advertising across the chest, but hey you're a pharmacist you'll have a few nickels to rub together. :laugh:

Laker, don't you know the average lawyer doesn't want to be called a doctor, because it might mean a reduction in social/caste status?!?! :meanie:
 
ive been reading topics on this forum for over a year and most of the users that reply to almost every topic is so uptight and anal! i agree with 14 of spades... i myself think the same way. but why does everyone else have to be so rude? did pharmacy school make you so horrible and mean? and btw, i think revolver was just kidding about the Dr. title!
 
meowmeow said:
but why does everyone else have to be so rude? did pharmacy school make you so horrible and mean?

It takes years of studying with a master for us to become so horrible and mean. It's not for the faint of heart.
 
Personally, I don't really care what people call me. Pharmacist or Doctor, they don't matter to me. Just b/c people call you doctor don't mean nadda. They may respect your salutation, but not you as a person. So, let people call me by Mister or Pharmacist or Doctor.
 
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The only good use for calling yourself "Dr." is to put if before your name on your credit cards.... that way when you run a tab at a club, the server might see it and give you better service. lol
 
pharmaz88 said:
The only good use for calling yourself "Dr." is to put if before your name on your credit cards.... that way when you run a tab at a club, the server might see it and give you better service. lol

Or if you have a cool last name like Love, Death, or Evil.
 
meowmeow said:
ive been reading topics on this forum for over a year and most of the users that reply to almost every topic is so uptight and anal! i agree with 14 of spades... i myself think the same way. but why does everyone else have to be so rude? did pharmacy school make you so horrible and mean? and btw, i think revolver was just kidding about the Dr. title!

If you've been reading this forum for a year, you'd know this topic has been brought up a zillion times & has been beat to death. There is no answer - only personal opinions & each one is valid.

For those of us who post a lot - we are the LEAST uptight & anal of the bunch when it comes to this topic - we don't care what folks call us - we just hope they don't yell when they do!

Just be careful......if this thread goes on too long MacGyver will come back & then you'll really get to see horrible & mean! :laugh:
 
If it makes you feel any better the pharmacists at my pharmacy are called Dr. by the employees and the customers...
 
Optometrists arn't really physicians but we call them doctors, atleast i don't consider them physicians. Opthamologists are the physicians.

There are alot of other professionals that arn't physicians that we call doctor. Thats why I don't understand why Pharmacists arn't called Doctor.
 
Dr. Leca said:
Optometrists arn't really physicians but we call them doctors, atleast i don't consider them physicians. Opthamologists are the physicians.

There are alot of other professionals that arn't physicians that we call doctor. Thats why I don't understand why Pharmacists arn't called Doctor.

Beacause when it comes down to it, we don't get the respect we deserve. Anyone with any retail experience knows what I am talking about.

I don't care what people call me as long as they are not yelling at me....
 
Dr. Leca said:
Optometrists arn't really physicians but we call them doctors, atleast i don't consider them physicians. Opthamologists are the physicians.

There are alot of other professionals that arn't physicians that we call doctor. Thats why I don't understand why Pharmacists arn't called Doctor.
people that are worried about their prestigious title should get the hell out imho

meowmeow said:
but why does everyone else have to be so rude? did pharmacy school make you so horrible and mean?

meowmeow- why do people like you mistake being honest for being mean? Some put it in a nicer way (sdn1977) where as others (myself, ultracet) are brutally honest. With a name like meowmeow i guess it's okay to assume you have thin skin and are a real pu...... ah never mind it's not worth completing that thought....
 
dr of rx said:
Beacause when it comes down to it, we don't get the respect we deserve. Anyone with any retail experience knows what I am talking about.

I don't care what people call me as long as they are not yelling at me....
respect is earned, not given.

you gain more respect by being personable and being on a first name basis than forcing everyone to address you as Dr. Jackass.

I agree, I don't want to be yelled at either. It's been a long time since I've last been yelled at (2 or 3 years?) and i've been working in retail pharmacy now for 8 years. It's all delivery and how you carry yourself
 
I'm not saying that I want people to call me Doc er anything.
I'm just wondering why they don't. lol

Anyways, I think Pharmacists are the most respected healthcare professionals out there. Accessible to give advice to the public, and people trust Pharmacists with there lives.

I think thats more respect then being called Doctor such n such.
 
Dr. Leca said:
I'm not saying that I want people to call me Doc er anything.
I'm just wondering why they don't. lol

Anyways, I think Pharmacists are the most respected healthcare professionals out there. Accessible to give advice to the public, and people respect Pharmacists with there lives.

I think thats more respect then being called Doctor such n such.


Wow, you're basically an expert on this subject!

Just kidding.
 
I think Dr. Leca has a valid point and I know it's been addressed before. I think there was some pretty good discussion about this on a former thread, but it was also dotted with the the very common reply that aims at the motivations behind the question, not the actual question. I wondered this even when I had no idea I was going to be a pharmacist. I wonder if the prestige follows the name "doctor" or the job of a physician. Prestige seems to follow the adjective use and not the noun use. What does adding the word doctor actually denote? I have grown up calling a DDS, a dentist; an MD, a doctor; an OD,an eye doctor; and a Pharm D., a pharmacist. I never thought much about Ph D.'s growing up, but they aren't usually called doctors, but whatever their specific concentration was. It's when you get to using the word doctor as an adjective describing the pro noun that it gets even more interesting (forgive me if my parts of speech are wrong, I'm guessing). Growing up, all of the people behind these degrees I referred to as Dr. ___, except the pharmacist. I'm guessing, but I think pharmacy is the latest one to make the doctoral degree mandatory. This may be why pharmacists are not given the Doctor term as an adjective or as part of their name. The public is not aware of the education needed so they don't give that term to them. This might change as the years go by, maybe not. That's my best guess. Hope this helps.
 
josephbroten said:
The public is not aware of the education needed so they don't give that term to them.
Exactly. Unfortunately, most people think that the job description of a pharmacist is only to count pills, so they possibly couldn't compare to a doctor. 🙄

Regardless, I'm not going into pharmacy for prestige. If I was adamant about wanting being referred to as a doctor, I would have opted for a MD. I personally love the flexibility (and the salary!) that pharmacists have.
 
desiluscious said:
Exactly. Unfortunately, most people think that the job description of a pharmacist is only to count pills, so they possibly couldn't compare to a doctor. 🙄

Regardless, I'm not going into pharmacy for prestige. If I was adamant about wanting being referred to as a doctor, I would have opted for a MD. I personally love the flexibility (and the salary!) that pharmacists have.

considering pharmacist now have to give consulting about drugs their patients are using in certain states. i believe the general public knows how important pharmacist are. but i think they think our job is easy. while doctors have a harder job of diagnosing their problems.

i believe pharmacists aren't called doctors is kinda like how physical therapists aren't called doctors. they just started the rule that you need 6 years to get a doctorate of pharmacy or physical therapy to practice. maybe it will catch on later in life. when i am like 90 haha.
 
Caverject said:
respect is earned, not given.

you gain more respect by being personable and being on a first name basis than forcing everyone to address you as Dr. Jackass.

I agree, I don't want to be yelled at either. It's been a long time since I've last been yelled at (2 or 3 years?) and i've been working in retail pharmacy now for 8 years. It's all delivery and how you carry yourself

trust me, I know how to carry myself. I am a little younger than you, but a very seasoned RPh none the less. (3000 rx/wk). 👍


2 years and never yelled at???? your clientele must be very different than mine.
 
dentists are called doctor and so are professors who have a ph.D
 
We already get bombarded by patients on a daily basis for free medical advice, which we are more than happy to give. Imagine if it became socially acceptable to call us doctor.....suddenly they would have to hire a pharmacist to stand at the consultation window just to tell people to go see a physician. No thanks, call me pharmacist, call me mister, just don't call me late for dinner.....I'm hungry!!!!!
 
After I graduate I don't expect to be called Dr., but I am never gonna call a physician a doctor as well 😀
 
The beauty of standardized professional school education is that the Pharmacy Colleges have the power to educate the public and regulate who is able to practice pharmacy.

When all pharmacists are doctors and the public knows this, that is what they should be called. From what I've seen with my girlfriend going through the pharmacy application process is that all of the schools are disorganized in having a common pre-requisite base. The pharmacy associations must educate the public and organize the education for the professional school if they want to gain cultural authority.

PhDs are doctors too. Doctor is just a general term.

You can be a physician, a professor, a researcher, a pharmacist, and many other things. Doctor is only a title.
 
doctor make a diagnosis.
the word diagnosis means: The act or process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation of patient history, examination, and review of laboratory data. (answers.com)

counting pills, checking for adverse rxn and ringing up are not diagnosis.
 
foraminal said:
counting pills, checking for adverse rxn and ringing up are not diagnosis.

I look at patient's labs, calculate creatinine clearance, then renally dose the drugs so the doctor doesn't cause an ADR. I also check mics and see if the doctor prescribed the correct antibiotic, not just what the drug rep was pushing that week.
 
Half my professors have been Dr. so and so, even at community college. If someone who knows a lot about Brazilian history isn't embarrassed to use the title I'm certainly not. All I know for sure is it will be on my driver's license and magazine subscriptions.
 
Am I missing something...is the term "Doctor" only to be used for people who make diagnoses? If that is the case then I know plenty of MDs and DOs who are doing research, teaching, and plenty of other things, none of which involve diagnosing anyone. So should they not refer to themselves as "doctor"?

Anyone who has earned a doctoral degree is considered a "doctor" of their respective discipline and I will refer to them as such (in the appropriate situation). In grad school I wouldn't dare call one of my professors by their first name (or Mr. or Ms. whoever) unless I was instructed to do so...they had a PhD so they were called "doctor". I understand that it can get confusing sometimes to say refer to a nurse who happens to have a PhD as "doctor" in a clinical setting but that is why I say that the term should be used if/when appropriate. I believe that there is a level of prestige associated with the term "doctor" but I honestly don't believe that physicians have (or most even want) exclusive rights to this term.

I plan to use the term "doctor" when it is appropriate (I will have earned that right through my education). From being on the boards, it seems like the main folks getting bent out of shape about others using the term are those who haven't yet completed their degree. Most practicing MDs/DOs I know could care less about a pharmacist who has a PharmD using the term "doctor" in the proper context...they have better things to do.
 
foraminal said:
doctor make a diagnosis.

No. A "Physician" makes a diagnosis.
 
dgroulx said:
I look at patient's labs, calculate creatinine clearance, then renally dose the drugs so the doctor doesn't cause an ADR. I also check mics and see if the doctor prescribed the correct antibiotic, not just what the drug rep was pushing that week.

I agree with this fully. My mother is a pharm tech and nurse and sees the worst of doctors being swayed by drug reps.

Because of it, I ALWAYS take the consultation so that if there is something better out there, I WILL ask for it. I really would prefer my treatment not being governed by whoever hands out the coolest goodies.

There is a reason Walgreens policy is to not speak to or accept "goodies" from any drug reps.
 
the way i look at it as is if you want people to call you a doctor you do that. if you don't care than fine. if you don't want people to call you a doctor just don't use it.

it is as simple as that. this topic has been beaten to death jeez.
 
wow everyone here must be too sensitive for calling revolver an azzhole just because he wants to be called "doctor" . I think he just wants to be respected for what he earned and TO ME, being called a doctor is a sign of respect. wouldnt u feel good if people call you a doctor? I bet most parents care who dates their daughter but if shes dating a doctor the parents wouldnt think twice in fact they would even tell her to marry him lol. thats how much respect they get. I belive that once u get doctor degree you are eligible to be called "Dr". And since this forum says Student " doctor " forums and pharmacy is part of it. shows that pharmacist are doctors. loll if i typed anything wrong. dont yell at me.. just correct me and dont call me an azzhole just like u did to revolver lol..
 
pharmaz88 said:
The only good use for calling yourself "Dr." is to put if before your name on your credit cards.... that way when you run a tab at a club, the server might see it and give you better service. lol

I have been a bartender for 5 years and having DR. on your Credit does not ahelp you a bit. As a matter of fact it may hurt you. The people with the most money "usually" tip the worst, unless they used to work in the industry. You would be amazed how cheap some of these stiffs can be.

I'm still going to put the title on my credit card, Driver's license, etc. but only for my own personal Gratification. I could care less if anyone actually addresses me as such. I think if they respect me they will, thats not to say that if they dont address me as such, they don't respect me. I personally try to give credit where credit is due.
 
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