[NRSKarenRN]

Title fight: Some Calif. physical therapists will soon be 'doctor'

On Jan. 1, physical therapists with doctoral degrees across the state will be getting acquainted with the title. That's when a new state law removes a longtime ban forbidding these healthcare professionals from calling themselves "doctor."

Sacramento Bee, Dec. 26, 2006
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[CHATSDALE]

WEIRD...I have know several nurses with phd but none who choose to be called doctor except for head of dept at university

[llg]

Good for them! Why should physicians be the only one to use a title known and respected in the community. The academic degree of a physician is no higher than anyone else's doctorate. It's about time that the public be "nudged" to confront that fact.

I work in a hospital in which most people (regardless of their discipline) goes by their first name. But in those instances where last names are used, I do expect people to refer to me a "Doctor" instead of "Miss" or "Ms." acknowledging my PhD. Using "Miss" sounds diminutive -- young. "Ms." doesn't sit comfortably on the lips of many people. But as I said ... I usually go by my first name at work, just like most of the physicians.

llg

[Brita01]

Wow. That'll be confusing to patients.

[wincha]

Interesting... a professor is a doctor. An attorney has his jurisdoctorate but is not called Dr. A therapist is a Dr. If you earn the degree you should be called Dr. or take it away from all the other professions that earn their doctorate.

[danh3190]

Originally Posted by Brita01

Wow. That'll be confusing to patients.

Yes. When I'm in the hospital I have enough trouble figuring out who's who. I think the only people called Dr. in a healthcare setting ought to be physicians.

[EricJRN]

It's an interesting debate. If we're using physician status as the key to being called 'doctor' though, keep in mind that MD's and DO's are the only ones who can be considered physicians in many states. Would that mean that no podiatrists, dentists, oral surgeons, chiropractors, or psychologists should refer to themselves as doctors? That would involve undoing a lot of tradition.

[danh3190]

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

It's an interesting debate. If we're using physician status as the key to being called 'doctor' though, keep in mind that MD's and DO's are the only ones who can be considered physicians in many states. Would that mean that no podiatrists, dentists, oral surgeons, chiropractors, or psychologists should refer to themselves as doctors? That would involve undoing a lot of tradition.

Good point. I hadn't thought of it that way.

[llg]

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

It's an interesting debate. If we're using physician status as the key to being called 'doctor' though, keep in mind that MD's and DO's are the only ones who can be considered physicians in many states. Would that mean that no podiatrists, dentists, oral surgeons, chiropractors, or psychologists should refer to themselves as doctors? That would involve undoing a lot of tradition.

Yes. That is a good point, Eric. The public needs to wake up and realize that phyisicians are not the only people with doctoral degrees. Physicians and health care administrators also need to acknowledge that fact and incorporate that fact of life into their thinking.

As more and more nurses get doctoral level education, we will deserve (and demand) that the health care system acknowledge our credentials -- just as the psychologists, the PharmD's, the PT's, etc. have done.

llg, PhD, RN

[NurseguyFL]

Originally Posted by llg

Yes. That is a good point, Eric. The public needs to wake up and realize that phyisicians are not the only people with doctoral degrees. Physicians and health care administrators also need to acknowledge that fact and incorporate that fact of life into their thinking.

As more and more nurses get doctoral level education, we will deserve (and demand) that the health care system acknowledge our credentials -- just as the psychologists, the PharmD's, the PT's, etc. have done.

llg, PhD, RN

Couldn't agree with you more. Physicians are only one type of 'doctor', and there are many types. Any person who goes through the process of a doctoral level education deserves the respect and recognition that comes with the title.