the Dr title...

[unoriginal]

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So what do you do when you are in some sort of situation and someone says "Hello. Mr/Mrs. fun8stuff. How are you?", like for example when you are at the dentist office or at conferences for your kid and the teacher says hi. Do you correct them and say it is "Dr. Fun8stuff" or just ignore it?

 

[Rafa]

Side question: when do you start calling yourself a doctor professionally? (As in, on official documents, etc.) After graduation? Surely before the last year of residency. 🙂

 

[diosa428]

I would ignore it. And you're a doctor as soon as you graduate and will probably be referred to as "doctor" by the other doctors that you work with as a resident.

 

[Rafa]

Personally, I'd ignore it. If the conversation worked its way toward my occupation, I'd divulge, but I wouldn't go out of my way to keep everyone from calling me Mr., particularly in one-time meet situations. (dentist, gas station, etc.) If it's in a work setting (somewhere where I'd see the person frequently), I'd either tell him/her to call me by my first name, or Dr. X (X=my last name). I'm not too formal, so I'd probably say 'first-name'. Like Becker.

 

[fun8stuff]

So what do you do when you are in some sort of situation and someone says "Hello. Mr/Mrs. fun8stuff. How are you?", like for example when you are at the dentist office or at conferences for your kid and the teacher says hi. Do you correct them and say it is "Dr. Fun8stuff" or just ignore it?

well i hope unoriginal will forgive me. i seemed to jump on a computer at the library that was logged in under his/her name. we must go to the same school!

 

[Law2Doc]

And you're a doctor as soon as you graduate

Actually, there are legal reasons why it is problematic to call yourself "doctor" before you are licensed (not just "graduated"), as it is misleading (to patients) and you are taking on an apparent authority that the jurisdiction has not actually granted you.

 

[ddmo]

Actually, there are legal reasons why it is problematic to call yourself "doctor" before you are licensed (not just "graduated"), as it is misleading (to patients) and you are taking on an apparent authority that the jurisdiction has not actually granted you.

Umm, no. Once you graduate, you earn the title of doctor, as you have earned a doctorate level degree in medicine. Every single intern out there is refered to and refers to themselves as doctor. Are they licensed physican, no, not till they finish their internship and pass Step III. But they are able to practice medicine under an institutional license during that year.

Law2Doc, you're wrong on this one. The title pertains to your degree, not license.

 

[ddmo]

Umm, no. Once you graduate, you earn the title of doctor, as you have earned a doctorate level degree in medicine. Every single intern out there is refered to and refers to themselves as doctor. Are they licensed physican, no, not till they finish their internship and pass Step III. But they are able to practice medicine under an institutional license during that year.

Law2Doc, you're wrong on this one. The title pertains to your degree, not license.

In regards to the original question, you ignore it in most benign circumstances. You'll only come off as an arrogant ass.

 

[UCSBMed1]

Umm, no. Once you graduate, you earn the title of doctor, as you have earned a doctorate level degree in medicine. Every single intern out there is refered to and refers to themselves as doctor. Are they licensed physican, no, not till they finish their internship and pass Step III. But they are able to practice medicine under an institutional license during that year.

Law2Doc, you're wrong on this one. The title pertains to your degree, not license.

100% correct. The title of doctor (physician) while implying one is able to precribe medications, is licensed, etc. is granted once one holds the degree of Doctor of Medicine. It has NOTHING to do with whether you're licensed or not. The institution where you train for residency grants you an "institutional license" with full (well almost) prescribing/order writing powers, regardless of Step 3 status.

 

[liverotcod]

I completely misunderstood the question, mostly because I didn't fully read it. I thought you were asking if, as a med student, you corrected people when they mistakenly called you doctor.

Except in very limited work-related situations, why in the heck would a person "correct" someone for NOT calling them Dr. Liverotcod? The title only has meaning on the job, really.

Ooooooh, Dr. Liverotcod has a nice ring to it. Maybe I'll change my real name.

 

[robh]

Actually, there are legal reasons why it is problematic to call yourself "doctor" before you are licensed (not just "graduated"), as it is misleading (to patients) and you are taking on an apparent authority that the jurisdiction has not actually granted you.

In Oregon at least you do have a license as an intern. It is a limited license that they call: "Limited License Postgraduate". Find your favorite intern at OHSU and look them up on the Oregon Board website.

Having said that, I'm with you on the legal issues. I think a reasonable person standard probably applies here. I don't think your average Joe/Jane can be expected to know the fine points of distinction between having an MD but not having an unlimited medical license. They have an expectation when they come to the clinic or hospital they will see a fully trained, licensed and competent physician. Whether or not you use the title "doctor" it seems to me that you must clearly disclose that you are still in training and you and the patient's care is being supervised by an attending physician whose training is complete and has an unlimited license. Besides, you're a lawyer... 😉

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

i've only seen one person who was strict about being called doctor, and he was just a PhD teaching high school ap biology. he would yell at you for calling him Mr.

now that's an dingus.

 

[fun8stuff]

thanks guys... my friend and a were discussing this and he honestly did not see anything wrong with correcting people. i was wondering if most med students felt like him. imho, i would be afraid of people wanting medical advice if i let them know!

 

[Law2Doc]

Law2Doc, you're wrong on this one. The title pertains to your degree, not license.

Not actually wrong, if you read what I wrote. I would agree that you have a doctorate and could call yourself a doctor. However, you do increase your liability if you create a misimpression on others by the apparent authority of the title. i.e. when someone sues you, they are going to attest that you told them you were a doctor, and you will likely be held to standards higher than that of the general public for this reason. Thus you wouldn't want to use the title in other than in social settings (and in your residency), until you have a license and insurance behind you.

 

[Firebird]

All you would have to say is Hello, I'm Dr. X, a resident/intern physician here. That satisfies your ego and still tells them you're just a resident.

Don't correct someone when they call you Mr instead of Dr. They'll just think you're goofy.

 

[chef_NU]

If anyone pulls that Dr. sillliness if they call you mister, you need your face politely corrected with a fist = )

 

[anystream]

i've only seen one person who was strict about being called doctor, and he was just a PhD teaching high school ap biology. he would yell at you for calling him Mr.

now that's an dingus.

wow, I had the same experience with my HS chem teacher. for that reason alone, I think I wouldn't correct people if it ever came up.

 

[cayberr]

In regards to the original question, you ignore it in most benign circumstances. You'll only come off as an arrogant ass.

Seconded.

In the earlier years of undergrad, I worked part-time as a restaurant hostess. If there's a wait, I asked for a name. First or last, doesn't matter since we didn't call parties by mister/miss anyway. A couple times, I had customers specify, "doctor" when I wrote down their last name and they would stand over me until I penciled it in. I was a mere mortal then and I thought it was pompous. Fast forward to med school...yea I still think it's pompous.

 

[liveandlearn]

you be a complete and total dick if you corrected people. you are nothing special and are still a mister everywhere but work.

 

[drmota]

you be a complete and total dick if you corrected people. you are nothing special and are still a mister everywhere but work.

precisely. modesty is essential in a profession like medicine.
-mota

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
The only time I am Dr. is in the hospital otherwise it is Mr/Ms njbmd.

njbmd 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

otherwise it is Mr/Ms njbmd.

I think you are legitimately allowed to be offended if they cannot determine what sex you are. 🙂

 

[azzarah]

I think you are legitimately allowed to be offended if they cannot determine what sex you are. 🙂

 

[azzarah]

I think you are legitimately allowed to be offended if they cannot determine what sex you are. 🙂

👍

 

[8744]

Actually, there are legal reasons why it is problematic to call yourself "doctor" before you are licensed (not just "graduated"), as it is misleading (to patients) and you are taking on an apparent authority that the jurisdiction has not actually granted you.

One of the only advantages of intern year, as far as I can tell, is you are perfectly entitled to walk into a patient's room and say, "Hello, I'm Dr. Panda Bear."

I usually add, "...one of the interns on the general surgery team," or words to that effect but I do not correct my patients when they call me "Doctor." (Which many of the NPs and PAs at my program do not even if they should)

I have enough authority as a Doctor, even though I am an intern, to be left essentially in charge of the care of eighty cardiolgy patients while on call or night float. Additionally, the nurses do what I tell them and I have never had one say, "wait, let me call a real doctor to see if it's OK."

Naturally I call for backup when I am out of my depth but everybody does this to a certain extent. Even the Chief of Surgery might consult another surgeon for a procedure with which he is unfamiliar.

As far as legal jeapordy, since I am operating under a resident license I believe it is impossible to sue me.

 

[Ypo.]

well i hope unoriginal will forgive me. i seemed to jump on a computer at the library that was logged in under his/her name. we must go to the same school!

I was wondering what was going on with that!

 

[8744]

I am not a pompous ass. However, there are a some situations when I throw the "Doctor" title around particularly when I call my children's public school to speak to the teacher, school psychologist, or guidance counselor.

I figure that if some ***** with an education doctorate can answer the phone, "Hello, this is Dr. Smith," the least I can do is reply, "Hi, this is Dr. Bear."

They know I'm a medical doctor and I swear they are more deferential to me since they found out.

When I make reservations or wherever I am asked for a title I put "Dr." Like I said, there are very few advantages to being a resident either in the realm of pay or working conditions. I may as well get a little of the prestige. I am older, after all, and the public doesn't kow that I am just an intern at a mediocre family medicine program.

 

[BKN]

.

As far as legal jeapordy, since I am operating under a resident license I believe it is impossible to sue me.

Oww, Panda, you are so wrong on this one.

BKN

 

[OSUdoc08]

So what do you do when you are in some sort of situation and someone says "Hello. Mr/Mrs. fun8stuff. How are you?", like for example when you are at the dentist office or at conferences for your kid and the teacher says hi. Do you correct them and say it is "Dr. Fun8stuff" or just ignore it?

If you even have to ask this question, then you don't deserve to be called "doctor."

I hear there are some seats left on the short bus. If you hurry, you can catch it!

If you correct someone for not calling you doctor, then you are socially inept.

 

[VFTW]

If you even have to ask this question, then you don't deserve to be called "doctor."

I hear there are some seats left on the short bus. If you hurry, you can catch it!

If you correct someone for not calling you doctor, then you are socially inept.

Harsh. It's a little more old-school to want to be called Dr. all the time, but it's not unheard of, and it has nothing to do with deservedness to be in the profession. It's just a title that some associate with respect. I don't care what people call me, but I'm just an informal person.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Harsh. It's a little more old-school to want to be called Dr. all the time, but it's not unheard of, and it has nothing to do with deservedness to be in the profession. It's just a title that some associate with respect. I don't care what people call me, but I'm just an informal person.

If you make your kid's teacher call you doctor during an informal conversation, then you need a beating.

 

[gostudy]

I think we just saw a great example of this in the most recent The Bachelor.

He was billed as "Dr. Travis" or "the doctor from Nashville." And the girls were falling all over him because he is a doctor.

The dude is a resident at Vanderbilt. But obviously these girls (and the nation?) don't know the difference between residents and atendings.

 

[VFTW]

I think we just saw a great example of this in the most recent The Bachelor.

He was billed as "Dr. Travis" or "the doctor from Nashville." And the girls were falling all over him because he is a doctor.

The dude is a resident at Vanderbilt. But obviously these girls (and the nation?) don't know the difference between residents and atendings.

But a resident is a doctor... so I'm confused about what you're saying?

 

[Sureshot83]

I think we just saw a great example of this in the most recent The Bachelor.

He was billed as "Dr. Travis" or "the doctor from Nashville." And the girls were falling all over him because he is a doctor.

The dude is a resident at Vanderbilt. But obviously these girls (and the nation?) don't know the difference between residents and atendings.

OK.....I admit that I have never seen a single episode of any season of The Bachelor, but I imagine it's probably true that the girls fall all over the guy no matter who or what he is.

I'm just saying that the girls would have been into the guy whether he was a doctor or not - that's just the nature of how those shows work.

 

[8744]

Oww, Panda, you are so wrong on this one.

BKN

Maybe "impossible" is the wrong word. What I mean to say is that since residents are always acting under supervision of an attending the order of targeting (using the "deep pockets" rule) for a lawyer would probably be hospital, attending, and then intern.

But I don't think a court would rule that I had violated the standard of care by posing as a Doctor because, and it seems obvious to me, they told me when I graduated Medical School that I was, indeed, a Doctor.

 

[diosa428]

But a resident is a doctor... so I'm confused about what you're saying?

agreed. MD = doctor. You get the MD when you graduate.

 

[THP]

i've only seen one person who was strict about being called doctor, and he was just a PhD teaching high school ap biology. he would yell at you for calling him Mr.

now that's an dingus.

I too have only met one person like this. . . It was a chiropractor and he insisted is wife refer to him as "the doctor" anytime they were in public, even at a restaurant with some friends.

 

[SoCuteMD]

I think we just saw a great example of this in the most recent The Bachelor.

He was billed as "Dr. Travis" or "the doctor from Nashville." And the girls were falling all over him because he is a doctor.

The dude is a resident at Vanderbilt. But obviously these girls (and the nation?) don't know the difference between residents and atendings.

To be fair, there's a big difference between an intern and a resident in his/her final year of training (which is what I understand "Dr. Travis" is, although I think his graduation may have been delayed a due to participating). Doctors who have completed their first year of post-graduate training (it varies from state to state, but this seems to be the rule) are eligible for a license. At that point they are fully licensed to practice medicine (but are not board certified in their specialty) and are eligible to be called "doctor" in every sense of the world.

I think the excitement on the part of the ninnies (I mean girls) was more at the earning potential and prestige. Translation: the resident/attending difference means VERY little to anyone who doesn't work in hospital.

 

[gostudy]

But a resident is a doctor... so I'm confused about what you're saying?

Yeah, I'm saying that in light of what some where talking about in terms of is a resident "a real doctor". I am saying that it doesn't matter becuase the public doesn't know the difference between residents and attendings and chicks don't either. For that matter some chicks don't know the difference between medical student and doctor.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

I too have only met one person like this. . . It was a chiropractor and he insisted is wife refer to him as "the doctor" anytime they were in public, even at a restaurant with some friends.

Are chiropractors allowed to be referred to as doctors? (I really don't know)

 

[MollyMalone]

Oww, Panda, you are so wrong on this one.

BKN

No kidding. Google poor Dr. Angela Beauchaine, 1st year resident at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, affiliated with MCW. Of course, there's probably some state-specific laws involved.

My memory of the case is fuzzy, but as I recall, they actually went after the resident specifically because of a loophole in state law which somehow prevented the state malpractice cap from being applicable to residents. I know they initially got a huge award, but I seem to recall that it got reduced at some point. I don't know if the appeals process has finished or not.

If memory serves, the malpractice cap has since been found unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court.

 

[8744]

It's like all of those poseurs who style themselves "engineers."

In most states, you can't call yourself an "Engineer" for the purposes of soliciting work unless you have a Bachelors Degree in Engineering, have done from four to six years of work as an EIT (engineer in training) under the supervision of a licensed engineer, and have passed the Professional Engineering Licensing Examination in your specialty (which in my state only had a twenty percent first time pass rate showing how difficult the test is).

So if the guy runnig wires under my house can style himself a "Network Engineer" I see no reason why a chiropractor can't call himself "Doctor."

Or "Admiral," for all I care.

Sincerely,

Panda Bear, MD PE

 

[8744]

No kidding. Google poor Dr. Angela Beauchaine, 1st year resident at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, affiliated with MCW. Of course, there's probably some state-specific laws involved.

My memory of the case is fuzzy, but as I recall, they actually went after the resident specifically because of a loophole in state law which somehow prevented the state malpractice cap from being applicable to residents. I know they initially got a huge award, but I seem to recall that it got reduced at some point. I don't know if the appeals process has finished or not.

If memory serves, the malpractice cap has since been found unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court.

I know they can garnish future wages in a lawsuit but I assure you that the pickings would be mighty slim for our legal brethren at the Panda Ranch. I know my patients think that as a doctor I am fabulously wealthy. I think they'd be suprised to kow how hard it has been for us to even make ends meet over the last year.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

yes..i believe DC = doctor of chiropractor...not sure either

 

[MollyMalone]

I know they can garnish future wages in a lawsuit but I assure you that the pickings would be mighty slim for our legal brethren at the Panda Ranch. I know my patients think that as a doctor I am fabulously wealthy. I think they'd be suprised to kow how hard it has been for us to even make ends meet over the last year.

Yes, they do seem to think that we're all rolling in it. Moral of the story, though... even as a resident, you can still be sued (at least in Sconnie Nation). And a >10 million dollar award will garnish the wages for a long, long time.

 

[Paws]

you be a complete and total dick if you corrected people. you are nothing special and are still a mister everywhere but work.

Ok, spoken a little bluntly but I totally agree. I am a woman and I am sure people will probably want to call me 'nurse' so and so anyway. Big whooey-flooey. I know who I am and I don't need to humilate someone by saying: Dr Paws to you, sir.

Besides, I sort of like just letting them figure it out on their own. This is in the hospital. As for picking up my kids, gosh no! as it is I find that when I tell aqaintances I am in medical school, some of them seem to be uncomfortable with that. Like we are not on the same level, or - I don't really know what goes thru their heads. I feel like I spend a good amount of time trying to put people at ease so that they are not uncomfortable with differences between us.

 

[ddmo]

My girlfriend worked in a dentist's office in high school and was friends with the dentist's kids. She would refer to "Mr. Jackass" and his narc'ed out wife would say, "ohh, honey, it's Dr. Jackass."

Serious douchebaggery.

 

[synapse lapse]

yes..i believe DC = doctor of chiropractor...not sure either

Yeah that's right. I personally find it disgusting that chiros wear white coats and refer to themselves as doctors and have been able to, through years of this, convince the public, including many medical professionals, that they are practicing medicine. There is no science behind the field and no data to support the existence of sublexations, or the efficacy/possibility of spinal manipulation. Chiros at best really do nothing more than a massage therapist could, and at worst perform dangerous manipulations, especially cervical ones, that have harmed patients. Anyhow back to the OP, why on earth would it matter if someone called you Mr not Dr? This is so strange a thing to bring up in a regular convorsation. I would always just say hey I'm Alex what's up when meeting new people. I mean I agree with PandaBear (I think it was him) in that I would probably use it when talking with creditors, banks, schools, etc. but I wouldn't correct people I just met when our talking had nothing to do with my being a doctor That's Doctor jackoff to you ! Haha and as a side not liverotcod I just figured out what your name meant, I am so ******ed haha

 

[Law2Doc]

As far as legal jeapordy, since I am operating under a resident license I believe it is impossible to sue me.

That's inaccurate. A lawyer will name all parties involved or potentially involved. That means you, your attending, the hospital. To not name everybody creates an "empty chair" defense -- i.e. the person truly to blame is the one not here. So everyone gets listed in a lawsuit. The hospital will generally provide the lawyer and the coverage, but you absolutely can be sued. (Deep pockets tend not to be an issue, as you are all on the same insurance carrier, but even if not, a judgement against someone with a lucrative future is not without some value.) And if you raise the level of expectations of a patient in terms of care, knowledge, etc. by asserting you are a doctor, then you are going to be held to a higher standard of care if haled into court.

I did not practice in this area of law, and don't like it any better than you.

 

[emack]

I completely misunderstood the question, mostly because I didn't fully read it. I thought you were asking if, as a med student, you corrected people when they mistakenly called you doctor.

Ditto. Oops.

Someone who, except when it's professionally relevant, feel the need to let other people know they're not 'mere' Misters and Misses, are only one step away from signing their name: "Dr. Blankity-Blank, MD".