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Too Many Doctors?

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If you are a Doctor in Politics or Communications or Public Administration do you qualify to be called; “Doctor”?

I am noticing a proliferation of people (especially those involved in Government work) using the title Doctor.

Yes – a lot of hard work went into that qualification I am sure, but still I feel great unease at how many people INSIST on being called Doctor when they couldn’t distinguish a head cold from a broken leg.

Maybe they should take a leaf from the Medical Profession – when a Doctor specialises (e.g becomes a surgeon) their title becomes MISTER. Quaint I am sure.

Socially as well as professionally, medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are addressed by, and introduced with, their titles. People who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, nonmedical doctoral degree have the choice of whether to use “Dr.” both professionally and socially. If, when meeting people with doctorates, you’re unsure how to address them, “Dr.” is always correct. If they’d rather the title be dropped, they will let you know.

Doctors Stethoscope
NOT a tool of the trade for a Doctor of Philosophy or Politics or Communications!

In the Commonwealth countries, male surgeons are always called Misters.

Since this is a British tradition, the answer lies in 18th century Britain. As the nation entered modernity, the medical field there advanced with it.

Rich gentlemen became physicians by having a university medical degree, making them earn the title of Medical Doctor.

Only physicians had the privilege to be called a doctor at this time. They treated internal diseases, wrote Latin prescriptions, and based their decisions on the patient’s medical history and appearance.

While physicians enjoyed high status, elitism, and credibility, surgery was considered brute and archaic. Surgery began in barbershops as early as the medieval period, in the 1500s.

These “barber surgeons” treated ulcers, wounds, and infections despite having no formal education and training.

Furthermore, according to Medical News Today, barber surgeons also adopted superstitions and pseudoscience in performing surgery.

So while gentlemen in universities started calling themselves doctors and patients knew them with that title, surgeons were called misters.

The Royal College of Surgeons of London, founded in 1745, sought to elevate surgery from the one practiced by the much-older Company of Barbers and Surgeons.

However, even though surgery began to be formalized as a medical field, they retained their title as misters.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.