AMA has proposed legislation to restrict use of the term "doctor"

Bottom Line.
Don't misrepresent yourself!

 

The bottom line is that the medical doctors are trying to misappropriate the title of doctor. The title of doctor is an academic title which rightfully belongs to anyone who has earned the doctoral degree. The medical doctors' professional title is that of physician

 

And why are they trying to "misappropriate the title of doctor."?

Answer: Because we have idiots, albiet a small minority, that hold doctoral degrees misrepresenting themselves to the general public!

 

Actually, the medical doctors' professional title is that of Physician and Surgeon.

 

And how is it "misrepresentation" for a doctoral degree holder to represent himself/herself as a doctor?

 

That is not the point! The point is that there are doctoral degree holders that misrepresent him or herself as a doctor of medicine when they clearly are not!


If a Doctor of Education represents him or herself as such how is that a misrepresentation? It is not! That is my point and subsequently the bottom line. Do not misrepresent yourself!!!

For example, if a Family Nurse practitioner holds a Doctor of Education but is working in a primary care setting, it would be inappropriate for the staff to address her as doctor because the patients would be misled in thinking he or she was a doctor of medicine. hence a misrepresentation.

 

Then, in other words, the problem consists of the fact that there are members of the public who choose to remain willfully ignorant of the fact that there is a difference between a doctor and a physician.

 

I believe simply put, the AMA is attempting to protect the general public in the health care setting from being deceived that they are getting a medical doctor when they are not.

I can see their point but agree there needs to be some lines drawn that protects the hard earned credentials and titles of other doctoral degree holders.

I would think the "willfully ignorant public" are not as concerned about the non medical interactions they have with Doctors of Education at a University or Doctor of Juris Prudence at the law firm, etc., many of those titles are clear about its scope. This is obviously an attempt by the AMA to protect a title within the health care industry.

 

I still say that the willfully ignorant public should educate itself about who is a doctor so they can be smart enough to ask a doctor whether his/her doctorate is in medicine or nursing or history or business or whatever. In short, if someone tells you that they are a doctor, ask: Are you the kind of doctor that can do me any good at the moment?

 

"I still say"

I'm sure the AMA and all the "willfully ignorant public" will get right on top of it!

- Degreeinfo, a forum to solve the worlds problems.

 

If I'm a nurse with a doctorate (in nursing, pharmacy, or whatever), I'll call myself a doctor. If an ignorant person happens to think I'm a medical doctor, when whatever it is I'm doing is obviously part of my nursing work and doesn't have anything to do with surgery or any medical-doctor related task, it's that ignorant person's problem. I won't devalue my accomplishment or title just because people around me are ignorant.

 

Then they should use unambiguous terms like "physician" and surgeon, and not "doctor," which refers to distinguished and learned members of professions and academies.

I am a doctor. That is ambiguous. I am also a director. That is not. I am called "Dr. Douglas," but my position within the organizational hierarchy is "Director, Leadership Programs."

It is the physicians and surgeons themselves who are to blame when they say things like "I am a doctor."

 

Even 'physician' is imperfect because chiropractors refer to themselves as 'chiropractic physicians' and I think naturopathic doctors (including fraudulent naturopaths from bogus schools) use that term, and legally so in some states. I think 'medical doctor' or 'clinical psychologist' or something that describes both the profession and the degree is probably the right thing if clarity is what's being sought... but of course the medical doctors would like to monopolize the use of the word 'doctor' for their own group.

 

I agree. I am not taking sides with the AMA I am merely attempting to understand their motive. I know the nursing profession tries to protect the title of "nurse" although many healthcare facilities constantly tell the patients "the nurse will take your vital signs now" when the person doing the task is a Medical Assistant and not a nurse. It is important to protect one's title but more important to not misrepresent oneself. You're right! They should use the title given as indicated on their State License to practice which is Physician and Surgeon. Perhaps there needs to be a nation wide effort in educating the public on academic titles versus scope of profession???

I thought I read in a previous post that the AMA was not able to implement it anyway so it is a moot point....for now.

 

As far as I know, the profession in Canada is that of "Physician and Surgeon". As far as the "Doctor" part, I don't think it's written into any legislation or constitution for the profession. They all just happen to have undergraduate MD degrees.

 

You are correct! In most countries they award a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery degree (MBBS). In British countries and territories the Surgeon is actually addressed as "Mister". The American Medical Association (AMA) certainly can't defend their exclusive claim to the title of Doctor but I'm sure they'll keep trying.

 

I think that anyone that holds a degree that says "doctor of..." in it has the right to call themselves doctor. But there is a difference between professional and academic degrees. An MD is an undergraduate degree that is a first professional degree like OD, JD, etc... It is certainly not a research degree or a degree that prepares someone to teach like the TRADITIONAL process of obtaining a Ph.D.

I think this is a completely ridiculous pursuit on the part of the AMA and I certainly hope that it does not go too far. A serious challenge from the other end (i.e. Ph.D. holders) might actually work against the AMA. Ph.D.'s have been calling themselves "doctors" a lot longer that physicians and surgeons.