Who can call themselves "Physician"?

[tncekm]

I definitely know that PhD's are the original "Dr" (doctor in that sense meaning teacher). I was responding to the person who I quoted who said that physicians are not regarded as doctors, which is what my confusion was about.

But the function of that word has definitely changed, one definition being a "title" for PhD holders and the other definition being a "doctor", or person who practices medicine (in a general sense).

Which is why I think it is unreasonable for a person who has a PhD to say "I'm a doctor", rather than, "I hold a doctorate in...".

I think this is specifically why medical doctors can refer to themselves as physicians. It makes no sense that medical doctors should suddenly own the title of doctor.

Plus, any educated person who could actually appreciate the hard work that was put into a person earning a doctoral degree of some sort would probably inquire as to what a Dr. is a doctor of.

I do take issue with some people holding the title of doctor, however. But, I think that's a different debate that will piss off a whole other group of people. 🙂

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[Hayden2102]

I think this is specifically why medical doctors can refer to themselves as physicians. It makes no sense that medical doctors should suddenly own the title of doctor.

Plus, any educated person who could actually appreciate the hard work that was put into a person earning a doctoral degree of some sort would probably inquire as to what a Dr. is a doctor of.

I do take issue with some people holding the title of doctor, however. But, I think that's a different debate that will piss off a whole other group of people. 🙂

I really don't think it's a "sudden". It's a very long-evolved social name. When you are sick, you go see the doctor. It's been like that for a while now, right?

Again, I think there is a difference between the title "Dr" and "a doctor".

 

[Sean2tall]

I wouldn't have any problem saying "I'm a vet", but I'd also have no problem saying that I'm an animal doctor. I would not call myself a physician.

Ah yes, animal doctor is a good one too. Boy do I get a kick out of that rabbit.

Again with splitting hairs, Doctor, vs. Physician. Dont you folks think that your audience dictates what you would call yourself?

Do you walk in the exam room and say, "Hi Im Dr. Smith, I'm a physician. No, you say "Hi I'm Dr. Smith".

When you walked into Physiology class, did the prof say "Hi, Im Dr Jones, Im a Physiology professor, I have a PhD in Physiology. No.

The audience already knows that when they meet the Doctor, that they are either their physician, or their professor, naturopath, or whatever.

...

Theres no confusion. And again, I am calling some of you out as trying to put yourselves on a pedestal by being wanting to be called Doctor, or Physician, or Master, or Captain.

Yes I agree. To be honest, I have never heard of an example of someone really stretching the truth anyway, except for maybe the thread on the naturopath person who "went to medical school" and "is a physician."

By the way, I prefer to be called Jedi Master, myself.

Which is why I think it is unreasonable for a person who has a PhD to say "I'm a doctor", rather than, "I hold a doctorate in...".

Anything I have said on this topic has been aimed at answering the question, "What will people think if a person says X?" rather than who "deserves" a particular status/rank etc. I find that I frequently can tell where/why misunderstandings are happening between people and I am big on carefully worded language.

The fact is, at least in America, anybody that (without context) says, "I am a doctor," will be assumed to be a physician, maybe even a generalist.

This is completely separate from: "I am Dr. Smith," which is appropriate for any person who holds any doctorate and does not imply even a health field at all, for example a literature professor introducing himself to a class. Now, if that professor walks into a hospital, dressed in a lab coat, and enters a patient's room, well then we are starting some sh%&.

 

[DiveMD]

And there are many, many more residencies than even that. Oh yeah, we can definitely pack away the years....I plan to go on to an Anatomical Pathology residency with a combined PhD focusing on nutritional metabolics and renal disease progression....man, I'm never gonna get out of school 😉

Most animal research benefit human patients on the long run. Good job!👍

 

[DiveMD]

In Florida an Optometrist is classified and licensed under the title 'Optometric Physician'.

Which is a joke...

 

[wanabdoc]

I wouldn't have any problem saying "I'm a vet",

No joke, I would be proud to be a "vet." Vets have prestige, they don't need to call themselves doctors to get that respect.

 

[howelljolly]

Supposedly, admission into vet school is more competetive then med school, statistically speaking. Theres only about 28 Vet schools in the US, whereas theres around 130 med schools. Theres more applicants for each Vet school seat.

 

[StealthDog]

Theres more applicants for each Vet school seat.

I'm not sure what the numbers are for med schools, but I know there were about 950 people that applied for my class of 90.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Most animal research benefit human patients on the long run. Good job

Yup Yup, that's my game - I would like to benefit both "areas" if you will. I debated for a long time as to doing human med or vet med...decided on vet med because that was I could do "both" in a way. I think veterinarians are desperately needed in animal research to both benefit humans AND animals - there are so many in clinical areas (which I am not discounting at all, we need em there to) and not enough doing research!

And yes, there were around 900 applicants for my class of 90 as well.

 

[SomeDoc]

I'm not sure what the numbers are for med schools, but I know there were about 950 people that applied for my class of 90.

n>2700 (intentionally nebulous; public forum) applicants the last application cycle, comparable class size.