re: Have you ever met someone who wasn't a real doctor demand to be called "Dr".

every chiropractor in the america

I know a lot of people who have gotten Ph.D's and it is hard work taking years of sacrifice and they rarely get paid well after they get the degree, depending on their field.

Why diminish someone's accomplishments?

quote:

---

I know non-practicing attorneys who have asked to be addressed as "Doctor". I think that goes a little far despite the fact that they have a Juris Doctorate.

---

Actually in some Latin American countries an attorney with a JD is addressed as Dr.

When someone begs for a doctor, they are looking for an MD or DO. They don't want a PHD in English.

Seems like we should differentiate between that more for practical reasons.

Lots of folks with doctorate degrees don't use/request the title doctor. Others are prickish about it.

Other jobs also have titles. It's a societal/cultural thing.

Chef, Doctor, Coach, Professor, Officer, whatever.

quote:

---

Case in point: My stepdad is an ER doc, and was treating a patient. He went into the patient's room and said "Hello, Mr. So and So. I have your bloodwork, and...." The patient stops my stepdad in mid-sentence, and says "It's Dr. So and So." My stepdad then proceeds to tell the patient everything using the strictest medical terms. The patient then said, "Well, I'm a Ph.D."

---

This is what pisses me off. Anyone who has earned a doctorate deserves the title if they want it, but the ones who wear a chip on their shoulder when not addressed properly are ridiculous. If I'm in the hospital, I am usually addressed as Dr unless it's someone who personally knows me or I'm in street clothes. If I'm in a situation outside of the workplace when someone doesn't know who I am, I could care less what I'm addressed as. I have had patient's before who correct me when I say Mr/Mrs and it has led to the situation quoted above. It just makes me think not only are you a "doctor," but you are also arrogant and a dumbass.

I do have problems with "Doctor Nurses" though. I have been in a situation before where a nurse has gone above and beyond and earned her Doctorate of Nursing. She wore a non-physician's white coat in the hospital and addressed herself as doctor. This was not only confusing for all but I felt a danger to patient care.

quote:

---

Why diminish someone's accomplishments?

---

i was speaking for myself.... i don't know about how hard other fields of study are, i was simply referring to my personal experience

We have this discussion about once yearly. The etymology of the word doctor comes from the Latin word docere which means to teach. I'm cool with addressing people the way they want to be addressed. The word itself referred to doctors in the academic sense for longer than the medical sense. This society respects MDs more than Ph.D's, so the argument is a common one, but I still think it's silly.

quote:

---

With a physician you know they worked their arse off to get that degree

---

You are clinically retarded.