How did medical doctors get the title 'Dr'?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by George Brown, Nov 26, 2004.

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  1. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    I seem to recall some time back (either I read it here or I was told) that medical practioners in the UK proclaimed themselves 'Doctors' via a decision made at a meeting/ association in the UK sometime in the 17/18th century. It was done in order to raise their social status and standing in the community. Does anyone have any other information on this process, what transpired, and how this was adopted around the world?

    Cheers,

    George
     
  2. ham

    ham member

    In the middle ages & onwards you had no big choice of academic subjects.
    You had medicine ( rooting back from XII-XIII southern Italy muslim run medicine schools ) then theology-philosophy.
    Here in Italy doctor is whoever gets a B.A.
    Physicians you call them doctors, but the word is "medico" from medicine.
    In german is Artzt; in french médécin.
    Hence it may be an all-english speaking question.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 26, 2004
  3. jugador

    jugador New Member

    MD = money doctor
     
  4. mintaru

    mintaru Active Member

    The right term in German is Arzt! ;)
    And the academic Degree in Germany is the German "Staatsexamen".
    However, the majority of German physicians holds a "Dr. med" - that's not a German MD but a German PhD in medicine.
     
  5. ham

    ham member

    And the academic Degree in Germany is the German "Staatsexamen".

    if that is what it means, every guilded profession, such as engineers, architects, physicians etc requires some state exam AFTER the completion of the appropriate course of study.
    At least in Italy it is like this.

    The right term in German is Arzt!

    now this is real news for me; thank you.
     
  6. mintaru

    mintaru Active Member

    In fact it is what it means, but the German Staatsexamen has also the legal status of an academic degree. However, Staatsexamen degrees exists only in six regulated professions: Dentistry, Food chemistry, Jurisprudence/Law, Medicine, Pharmacy and Veterinary medicine and even in three non-regulated(!) professions: Protestant and Catholic church music , Music school teachers/freelance music teachers and Jewish religious education.


    There is also the Staatsprüfung in other regulated professions (also translated as state exam), but the German Staatsprüfung has not the legal status of an academic degree... it is 'only' an examination.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 26, 2004
  7. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    Thanks for the replies everyone, but I guess no one has any info on the background re-the UK medical association and their decisions. I will try directly with some associations and see what I come up with.

    Cheers,

    George
     

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