Should Only Medical And Scientific Persons Be Referred To As Doctors

[barney15c]

Jill Biden has been criticized for using her Doctorate title, which she earned in the field of education. Some have said that this should only be applied to those in the Medical and Scientific professions. The BBC's own style guide uses the title Dr to refer to doctors of medicine, scientific doctors and church ministers who hold doctorates, when relevant. What is the history of doctorates in other disciplines? Do you agree that those who have a Doctorate in say Education, Economics, Theology etc should call themselves Dr. I have no personal opinion either way.

[sanmac]

Thanks, sqad. Here in Ontario they are. After their studies they receive an OD (Doctor of Optometry). Keep in mind that I'm not talking about opticians.

[Sqad]

Tinkerbell, your assumption is correct.

[tinkerbell23]

Doctor of nursing actually i just looked! Not phd x

[tinkerbell23]

The qualifications confuse mw
sqad!!

She is fab regardless and very supportive! X

[Jackdaw33]

Most university lecturers I know only use the title Dr within an academic context. Outside of that they are plain Mr, etc.

What IS frowned upon is those with honorary doctorates using the title.

[woofgang]

Yes Jackdaw, I get that, but if you have worked for it and earned it then why not?

[Ellipsis]

> A clinical psycholgist has a PhD, whereas a clinical psychiatrist has an MD

Yep, I deliberately picked the "non medical" one. :)

[royfromaus]

Doctors?

[piggynose]

So now i know what doctored means.

[waterboatman]

It doesn't matter what subject, If a person has a Doctorate, they are entitled to be called Doctor. It's a level of qualification, why should they not use it?

[waterboatman]

MD. Doctor of Medicine.
PhD. Doctor of Philosophy.

[emmie]

Mr Em had a Phd and sundry other titles, he was referred as Doctor in his working for a university.

[waterboatman]

A very intelligent man emmie.

[emmie]

he was

[waterboatman]

I've got a Doctorate in Engineering. Including welding.

[emmie]

i have only come across one person with more letters after their name and he is an old friend. Mr Em got his Phd for Chemistry a subject long over my head

[ichkeria]

As stated: if you have a doctorate you’re a doctor. And are probably intelligent enough to know the difference between medical doctors and other doctors.
Even if no one else is.

[drmorgans]

Woofgang: I don't think that anyone is saying that if you are a PhD, DPhil, whatever, that you shouldn't be addressed as doctor, but that in non-medical circles, particularly universities, research institutes, etc, that people generally don't bother, unless they a writing papers, attending conferences, being on TV / radio.

[1ozzy]

//Woofgang: I don't think that anyone is saying that if you are a PhD, DPhil, whatever, that you shouldn't be addressed as doctor, but that in non-medical circles, particularly universities, research institutes, etc, that people generally don't bother, unless they a writing papers, attending conferences, being on TV / radio.//
And that came from someone who goes by the name of drmorgans
LOL Dr Morgans

[Peter Pedant]

// What is the history of doctorates in other disciplines?//
oh calm down
doctor is only protected if you are holding yourself out to be a registered medical practitioner
has always been ( er since 1858 that is!)

Ph Ds have been doctor since they were doing it
Thomas Aquinas was the Doctor Angelicus in 1280
so this is not new

Kim Howells was a Ph D in an ology and demanded Dr -
and got it
the rules are straightforward
as with a lodda things - all people need to do is follow them