Not a doctor but is asking to be called "Dr" while on the unit.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 2, 2009

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.

rn4ever? · Dec 2, 2009

Just to clarify.....No, she is a patient who used to be a doctor but apparently lost her license recently. While in the unit, she wants the staff to call her "Doctor".

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

So call her that. Is that really so wrong? She's a patient who needs that to cope with whatever is going on in her life.

It's about her coping skills.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

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.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

I would still call her Dr. She may no longer have a license, but she still has a doctoral degree, right? We call non medical professionals with a doctoral degree Doctor, Right? I would just call her dr. since she is a patient and not intending to treat anyone.

kanzi monkey · Dec 2, 2009

If a patient asks to be called "doctor" I call them "doctor".

unless it interferes with her or another patient's medical care, and I can't imagine how it would

Emergency RN · Dec 2, 2009

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.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

I have already called a patient "Mary" instead of "Elizabeth" b/c it seemed to make her happy.

rn2bnwi, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

I ALWAYS refer to pts by dr. if they were a dr. (even if they are 99 and have dementia) unless they don't want to be called that. they earned the title.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

There is no fraud. There is no intent to defraud. I see no problem.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

We had a situation like this on a mental health unit I once worked on. The patient involved was actually a doctor, referred to our unit by the medical examiners board. We told her that she was not on the unit as a doctor and she would be referred to like any other patient.