# No, you are not a doctor! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423 "2008-10-11T03:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/141 "2008-10-13T19:59:51Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > Threads like this make me long for the halcyon days when the OPs showed up again to answer questions and to explain what the hell they were talking about. Yeah, but back then the SDMB only accepted people with MDs. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/142 "2008-10-13T20:29:17Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > Threads like this make me long for the halcyon days when the OPs showed up again to answer questions and to explain what the hell they were talking about. Right, but we’re probably asking the wrong questions anyway (or wrongly asking the right ones). If we wanted to know what the OP is talking about, we’d probably need to ask something like “oblate haddock purchases trouser press salaciously?” We certainly couldn’t just ask him what he’s on about; that’d be weird. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/143 "2008-10-13T20:38:03Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Not to mention Dr. Phil. Tree doctors, rug doctors and furniture doctors need recognition and respect too. And don’t underestimate the importance of a [lawn doctor](http://www.lawndoctor.com/) to the health and well-being of your turf. Just imagine the team that could rush to your aid if you’re stricken on a flight. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/144 "2008-10-13T21:36:06Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Having your academic suffix behind your name, on a business card or check is fine, but putting Doctor or Dr before the name is just plain wrong. It would be like putting Mr or Ms there, which is also inconsistent with proper form. It’s equally incorrect for medical doctors as it is for history professors… Back in school when we first learned how to write “business letters” we were told that while men shouldn’t use “Mr” in reference to themself it was acceptable for a woman to use “Ms/Miss/Mrs” so as to indicate her preference. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/145 "2008-10-13T22:23:52Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > How often do you think there’s a need for surgeons on an airplane? At least in Britain, a surgeon is a fully qualified medical Doctor who took further studies to drop the Dr. and become Mr., so they are just as ready to stand to in case of medical emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/146 "2008-10-13T23:57:21Z")
> [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > I repeat the exercise at [www.ba.com](http://www.ba.com); the flight is approximately 7 times more expensive, but in recompense I get a much greater selection of honorifics, including Rev, Lord and Dame. It’s worth seven times as much to me to be able to travel as **Dame Freddy the Pig**. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/147 "2008-10-14T03:06:43Z")
Ok, so titles aside, wouldn’t the flight crew and the prospective patient be best served by someone with training and experience whether they are an MD or not? Personally I have had extensive first aid training and been CPR certified for about 8 years now. Every other year I get re-certified and on the off years I take refresher courses. I do this because I am responsible for the 12 - 18 people who work in my warehouse and I am their first responder. In this position I have stabilized an ankle, dealt with several unconscious people with conditions ranging from diabetes to (unfortunately) assault, bandaged countless minor wounds and handled the basic emergency care of several of my employees. My wife is a CNA and we have both responded to random trauma in everyday experiences, one that stands out was a motorcycle accident where we assisted in stabilizing the rider until the ambulance arrived and assisted the medical personnel in preparing the victim for transport, so I am no stranger to trauma. However I am definitely not a doctor, EMT or other professional emergency care provider. If I were on an airplane and a passenger were having a heart attack I would be able to assist in stabilizing the passenger, including CPR if needed, but would always defer to a more qualified person. So formal titles aside, who would you rather have sitting next to you on a long flight after choking down that In-n-Out 4x4 with triple bacon: me, Dr. Joyce Brothers or Dr. Phil? Y’all keep your titles and thesis-es and such and I’ll keep running my warehouse and preaching safety and prevention every day. If you ever drop like a rock I’ll be happy to help you out and you can just call me N8. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/148 "2008-10-14T07:11:30Z")
> [@mcott](#): > > Your degree in History means jack shit to me if I’m having chest pains, or an embolism at 30,000 feet. Maybe he’s an expert on the history of medicine. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/149 "2008-10-14T08:00:14Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > It’s worth seven times as much to me to be able to travel as **Dame Freddy the Pig**. You’d think so, but anyone unfortunate enough to have travelled with British Airways will know full well that whatever your nominal title, you will be treated as if it were “Prisoner”. ---
**Author:** ![Jaglavak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jaglavak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaglavak)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/150 "2008-10-14T19:03:01Z")
Guys? Guys! HEY! GUYS! The horse is dead. He stopped twitching around page 2. Now you’re making pemmican. But at least you’re being entertaining while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/151 "2008-10-15T02:46:46Z")
> [@Jaglavak](#): > > Guys? Guys! HEY! GUYS! > > The horse is dead. He stopped twitching around page 2. Now you’re making pemmican. > > But at least you’re being entertaining while you’re at it. Fine. To paraphrase **nd\_n8** So formal titles aside, who would you rather have sitting next to you on a long flight after choking down that pemmican: me, Dr. Joyce Brothers or Dr. Phil? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/152 "2008-10-15T03:05:15Z")
> [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > Eh? You never have to put “Mr” on anything? Just about every single form I fill in requires some sort of title. It’s on my credit cards, I have to enter one when I pay online, I need to enter it when signing up for utilities, yada yada yada. Truly, almost never. My bank doesn’t require it, either online or on paper. I’ve never seen a credit card, which presumably has the same name associated with the bank account that said “Dr.” or “Ms.” or “Prof” or _anything else_ besides the person’s name. _After_ the name is a different story, and I’ve often seen people put their degrees there, e.g. MD in the case of a physician, Ph.D in the case of a history professor and so on. The power company? You’re kidding. My bills come to me as simply Firstname Pithecanthropus. I was honestly never asked by them to tell them if I wanted to be called Dr or Mr. I don’t travel too often, but IIRC it’s somewhat more common there to be asked what title I prefer to use, and to have printed on the tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/153 "2008-10-15T03:35:16Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Fine. > To paraphrase **nd\_n8** > So formal titles aside, who would you rather have sitting next to you on a long flight after choking down that pemmican: me, Dr. Joyce Brothers or Dr. Phil? At least Dr. Joyce Brothers uses her full name. I don’t know about Dr. “Phil”. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/154 "2008-10-15T04:08:18Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Truly, almost never. My bank doesn’t require it, either online or on paper. I’ve never seen a credit card, which presumably has the same name associated with the bank account that said “Dr.” or “Ms.” or “Prof” or _anything else_ besides the person’s name. _After_ the name is a different story, and I’ve often seen people put their degrees there, e.g. MD in the case of a physician, Ph.D in the case of a history professor and so on. The power company? You’re kidding. My bills come to me as simply Firstname Pithecanthropus. I was honestly never asked by them to tell them if I wanted to be called Dr or Mr. > > I don’t travel too often, but IIRC it’s somewhat more common there to be asked what title I prefer to use, and to have printed on the tickets. I’ve seen ‘Dr.’ on credit cards, but I suspect its a financial thing. That is, I suspect that a certain MD makes enough money that its financially worthwhile to incorporate as 'Dr. Certain MD, Incorporated". and gets a ‘company’ credit card with ‘Dr. Certain’ on it for use for business expenses, business lunches etc. I remember asking about it, and apparently Dr. Certain can’t easily incorporate as Farting Monkey Corp. No cite, just what I was told by the guy with the ‘I am a corporation’ paperwork in his office. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/155 "2008-10-15T04:10:41Z")
All of my British cards (atm, credit, etc.) have a title. None of my American cards do. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/156 "2008-10-15T07:00:13Z")
This is the dumbest conversation in the world. When I book an airline ticket, there’s a dropdown box. Of the usual options (Mr., Miss, Ms., Mrs., and Dr.), two apply to me: Mr. and Dr. I have a Ph.D. Why shouldn’t I pick the one that is more specific? Because some hit-and-run OP thinks (apparently mistakenly) that I might be approached by a flight attendant to perform surgery based on one unverified, insignificant decision that takes all of a half-second to make? Or, to put it another way: what **Dead Badger** said. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/157 "2008-10-15T16:09:53Z")
> [@quixotic78](#): > > This is the dumbest conversation in the world. When I book an airline ticket, there’s a dropdown box. Of the usual options (Mr., Miss, Ms., Mrs., and Dr.), two apply to me: Mr. and Dr. I have a Ph.D. Why shouldn’t I pick the one that is more specific? Because some hit-and-run OP thinks (apparently mistakenly) that I might be approached by a flight attendant to perform surgery based on one unverified, insignificant decision that takes all of a half-second to make? > > Or, to put it another way: what **Dead Badger** said. I wonder if the OP has ever even read the thread. I do the exact opposite. Both Mr. and Dr. apply (MD and PhD). I have always chosen Mr., 'cause I don’t like to use titles in a non-professional situation, and I’m secretly hoping that they’ll approach somebody else based on the passenger manifest to deal with the medical problem before they announce it over the overhead. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/158 "2008-10-15T17:31:43Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > \ What about doctors with DO degrees? \ DDS? DVM? What if one were FACS certified? Oh the humanity. Personally I don’t see the point of calling any doctor “Dr. So and So” outside of their formal setting. I wouldn’t call a judge “your honor” if he showed up to have a pint with me at a pub. I worked at a hospital and almost always called the docs by their first names. When I signed up for American Airlines frequent flier I chose “Commander” as my title just for shits and giggles. I forget that when I book via their web site that gets on my reservation somehow. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/159 "2008-10-16T00:49:20Z")
If the flight crew wants a “go to” list for in-flight medical care, they need to have a “Are You Willing/Qualified to Render Care” box, with prompts for detailed credentials. With all due respect the highly qualified specialized MD/DOs out there, many are not trained in emergent/urgent medical care, and are likely neither current nor proficient in acute care. Provide preferred seating for a limited number of EMT/RN/CNP/MD/Whatever people willing to help if needed. Frankly, in many of basic acute crises that might be amenable in-flight, what you want is a properly trained ER physician, EMT, RN or PA, and not an otherwise credentialed MD/DO. As for the social use of professional titles, fuck that, and fuck the people who insist on it. Putting the Social MD on a high tier above all other titles is irrelevant and stupid. As for the title of doctor, theologians, teachers, scientists and academics held it first, and the original meaning of the word relates to teaching. As for US-trained physicians, the MD/DO is not an academic doctorate. The entry level degree for UK-trained physicians is MBBS and the like - bachelor degrees in medicine and surgery. And perfectly nice physicians train for surgery in order to not be called doctor. And many of the european universities put the entry-level physician degree at the professional masters level. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423/160 "2008-10-16T03:34:18Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > As for the social use of professional titles, fuck that, and fuck the people who insist on it. Putting the Social MD on a high tier above all other titles is irrelevant and stupid. Society is partly to blame for that. People frequently place the “Dr.” honorific before a physician’s name on wedding invitations, theatre programs, and the like. I’m sure that many physicians have learned to expect this as a result. IMO, this is one big reason why laypeople don’t bat an eye when a physician is introduced as “Doctor,” but are more likely to complain if a PhD-holder is accorded that honorific. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-are-not-a-doctor/467423.md?page=9)