mr - not dr

[tali122]

why are medical consultants referred to as mr and not dr and when did this practice start?

[bobtheturkey]

surgeons are known as mr i think?

[B00]

I found this....

Why are surgeons in the UK called Mr or Miss or Mrs, rather than Dr?In most other parts of the world all medical practitioners, physicians and surgeons alike, are referred to as �Dr� whereas in the UK surgeons are usually referred to as Mr, Miss or Mrs. This is because, from the Middle Ages physicians had to embark on formal university training to gain possession of a degree in medicine before they could enter practice. The possession of this degree, a doctorate, entitled them to the title of �Doctor of Medicine� or Doctor.

The training of surgeons until the mid-19th century was different. They did not have to go to university to gain a degree; instead they usually served on apprenticeship to a surgeon. Afterwards they took an examination. In London, after 1745, this was conducted by the Surgeons� Company and after 1800 by The Royal College of Surgeons. If successful they were awarded a diploma, not a degree, therefore they were unable to call themselves �Doctor�, and stayed instead with the title �Mr�.

Outside London and the largest cities the surgeon served an apprenticeship like many other tradesmen, but did not necessarily take any examination. Today all medical practitioners, whether physicians or surgeons have to undertake training at medical school to obtain a qualifying degree. Thereafter a further period of postgraduate study and training through junior posts is required before full consultant surgeon status is achieved. Thus the tradition of a surgeon being referred to as �Mr/Miss/Mrs� has continued, meaning that in effect a person starts as �Mr/Miss/Mrs�, becomes a �Dr� and then goes back to being a �Mr�; �Miss� or �Mrs� again!

[spudqueen]

Mr Spudqueen is a Doctor, he has a Doctorate in Physics and he says that a medical Doctor does not have a Doctorate so the name Doctor is just a courtesy title.

[kempie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_%28title%2 9

[Peter Pedant]

Yup all the above is correct as far as I can see. Dr SPudqueen is a doctor Ph D but has to be careful in calling himself a doctor or a real doctor in case some simple soul thinks he is holding himself out to be a registered medical practitioner

The G M C would get upset by this in another century but is far too involved in its own survival to even bother to check nowadays.

[Hellion]

My Dad is a Doctor of Philosphy, he doesn't use his title as people always ask him about their nasty rash or painful hip at parties!!