Why is it considered pretentious for non-MDs who have doctorates to use their title?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im an MD, I only allow my patients to call me Dr.--it creates boundaries that are there to protect both of us and to define the relationship. I want to barf when all these school educators go by doctor.

Good for you. Hope you feel better. My internist has told me to call her by her first name. Relating to her on a first name basis has nothing to do with boundaries or my respect for her! She also gave me her cell phone number which I only use if I have an emergency. Our boundaries are clear.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the context (PhDs should do it at universities and scientific conferences, MDs should do it in clinical circumstances). No one should do it at a neighborhood barbecue or their kid’s game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the context (PhDs should do it at universities and scientific conferences, MDs should do it in clinical circumstances). No one should do it at a neighborhood barbecue or their kid’s game.

+1 NP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s true.

Unless you have MD, DOM, or DDS after your last name, YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR.

A doctor is a physician. Period.


My brother-in-law with a PhD in history IS NOT A DOCTOR. And he introduces himself as “Dr____ all the freakin time. It’s embarrassing.

Yeah, it's more complicated than this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_(title)

But way to demonstrate that you definitely don't have a doctorate in anything.

Sigh, I love DCUM. You guys always write out clearly what people normally keep hidden in their thoughts. It’s a whole vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

it’s not a ‘little extra studying’!!! You are ignorant of the process to obtain a PhD. The average number of extra years to obtain a PhD is 6 and that’s after your bachelor’s. These people are experts in their chosen fields. They studied and studied and studied. They completed major comprehensive exams in their disciplines and passed. Then they embarked on some major new research project in their area of study and completed a dissertation. They had to present at major conferences and get their work approved in front of other leading academics in their field. They earned the title Doctor in their chosen field. Everyone should know that ‘Dr’ doesn’t just mean medical. If YOU don’t know this, then YOU need more education.

Practically speaking, you aren’t wrong.

But lawyers similarly spend 3 or 4 years in school post-Uni and sit for an intense exam (that many people don’t pass). And they don’t get a special salutation.

In America, we address medical doctors as Dr. Whatever. And we address college professors with PhDs as Professor. Why? Because it just makes sense.

3 years of law school and the bar exam is an accomplishment, but not like earning a PhD. I've got a JD, I would never compare what that took to the work that it takes to earn a doctorate.

Correct. The average PhD takes 5-7 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s true.

Unless you have MD, DOM, or DDS after your last name, YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR.

A doctor is a physician. Period.


My brother-in-law with a PhD in history IS NOT A DOCTOR. And he introduces himself as “Dr____ all the freakin time. It’s embarrassing.

Hi Complete Idiot! I'm Dr Smith.

[Anonymous]

I always call my doctor Dr, but she calls me Miss.

I have a PhD. She can call me by my first name, no problem. Or Dr…but not Miss.

I don’t call her that. If we are being formal, don’t demote me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

Try 9 years of a specialization in physics. Your ignorance is astounding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you also think people with MA’s should be addressed as “Master”?

No, because it's not a title for. Master of Arts. It's a title for young boys if thr upper classes akin to Miss for a girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the context (PhDs should do it at universities and scientific conferences, MDs should do it in clinical circumstances). No one should do it at a neighborhood barbecue or their kid’s game.

Agreed, use in professional settings. For some reason though many think it's pretentious when PhD's and EdD's use Dr at social events or for booking accommodations but it's fine for the MD's. Not sure why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because if you introduce yourself as Dr, 99 percent of people will assume you are a medical doctor. And when they learn you are throwing around the dr suffix when all you have is a little extra studying of "education" or "social work" it comes across as pathetic and pretentious.

Both the MD and the PhD are more than "a little extra studying."

[Anonymous]

What about psychologists? Psychologists have PhDs, work in healthcare, diagnose, bill to medical insurance, etc. They use Dr. when being addressed with title + last name. I think this makes sense. Though many use their first name even professionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im an MD, I only allow my patients to call me Dr.--it creates boundaries that are there to protect both of us and to define the relationship. I want to barf when all these school educators go by doctor.

Ok, I’ll preface this by saying I’m on your side and agree with you on the last part of your post - but the other part makes you sound like an arrogant dick. If you told me that, I would never call you anything but your first name. See, the thing is, I have boundaries, too. And not suffering people who are full of themselves is one of them.


You need to work on your bedside manner, Doc.

Boundaries protect my patients mostly. So they can tell me something in confidence and I am bound to keep it confidential--not sure what you are trying to say?

You are weird and this isn’t true. Having your poor patients call you Dr does nothing to protect them! You actually sound unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about psychologists? Psychologists have PhDs, work in healthcare, diagnose, bill to medical insurance, etc. They use Dr. when being addressed with title + last name. I think this makes sense. Though many use their first name even professionally.

I have a friend who is a psychologist who has people call her this. I just shake my head internally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s true.

Unless you have MD, DOM, or DDS after your last name, YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR.

A doctor is a physician. Period.


My brother-in-law with a PhD in history IS NOT A DOCTOR. And he introduces himself as “Dr____ all the freakin time. It’s embarrassing.

You sound jealous of your BIL. He earned a doctorate and a title!

I have a couples titles. too - “ASE Certified Master Technician”, which took five years apprenticeship and a further 2 years as a journeyman to attain, and “Small Business Owner”, which required years of working for other people before I could open my own shop.


And it’s a good thing for my BIL that his super hot sister married a guy who fixes cars for a living, because Mr. Doctor PhD is too inept to change his own tire. Plus, he always has me around to pick up the check when we’re all out together as a group. He sure can’t with his proofreading job. So it’s nice being the successful son-in-law.

Def jelly