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I would not participate in committing fraud (or whatever other crime it is) by giving people the impression that someone is a doctor when they are not.
However, I would be discussing the situation with the administration of the facility to be sure that everyone is on the same page about the situation. Is this woman actually trying to practice medicine without a current license? If that is the case, I would be reporting her to the appropriate authorities for your state.
Edit:
Oops! My bad. Apparently, I didn't read the original post correctly. I'm sorry.
Here's my take. She might have lost her license, but her degree cannot ever be revoked from her. I assume the patient has attained an MD degree, so she is still a doctor by virtue of possessing a doctorate degree (just not licensed to practice medicine).
Dr. Robert Jarvik, the inventor of the artificial heart and a spokesman for Lipitor, earned his MD degree in 1976. However, he has never been licensed to practice medicine in any state or country. He has spent the past 30+ years working in research, so he has never really needed the license. However, he can still use the title of 'doctor' since he has attained a doctoral degree.
Your patient is a doctor and may use the title as long as she's got her degree to back it up, but she cannot legally practice medicine without being licensed. If calling her 'doctor' nurtures her spirit, then so be it.
The term "doctor" is an educational recognition, such that if a patient, or visitor, or whoever, is educationally qualified to be called "Doctor" (of medicine, philosophy, whatever), and that is how they wish to be addressed, then I would address them as such. There is no requirement or need for an active state medical license. Some people hang onto titles because it's important to them, and a sense of their identity.
If she was attempting to practice medicine without a license (like write medical orders while on the unit), that is one thing, but insisting on being called doctor (for which she is apparently educationally qualified) is perfectly legal. I would respect the patient's wishes.
rn4ever?
686 Posts
The patient (who used to be a doctor) asks in a nice manner that she be called Dr. so and so while in the unit. But apparently, she lost her license recently, and with the way she acts, she thinks that the staff on the floor doesn’t know about her license being revoked recently. How would you handle the situation? What will you tell her?