# Salutation - Is it legal to call yourself Dr. (X)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2000, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562 "2000-11-17T05:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/21 "2000-11-17T22:15:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Maxwell Edison \* > \*\*There’s Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, although you should be cautious taking anything he prescribes. \*\* “I’m a doctor of journalism god dammit and I demand some respect!” -Hunter.S, ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/22 "2000-11-18T08:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Orshee \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by KellyM \* > > \*\*It is illegal to call yourself “Doctor” if you do so for the purpose of deceiving someone as to your skills, qualifications, or credentials, where such deception would amount to fraud. \*\* > > That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. So why does Dr. Laura get away with it? She has a PhD in physiology but she represents herself as a therapist. Isn’t that fraud? \*\* I have to understand that Dr. Laura has some state certification as a mental health professional, although not as a psychologist or psychiatrist. While I have not personally confirmed this or seen it from a source I would consider authoritative, if this is true then she would be entitled to call herself a “therapist”. I do agree that it is somewhat dishonest of her to call herself “Doctor” while presenting herself as a therapist, since doing so tends to lead one to the conclusion that she is a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Whether this should be illegal probably depends on your opinion of Dr. Laura. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/23 "2000-11-18T08:42:27Z")
I would like to refer to myself as “Dr. Love.” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/24 "2000-11-18T08:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Maxwell Edison \* > \*\*There’s Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, although you should be cautious taking anything he prescribes. \*\* [hijack]OK, I gotta know something that’s been bothering me ever since I first saw your handle…ME, are you majoring in medicine? Should I never turn my back on you?[/hijack] I believe (and here we’re getting into IMHO territory) that “Dr.” Laura is committing a fraud in practice, whether or not she’s committing a fraud in the eyes of the law. ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/25 "2000-11-18T08:53:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Orshee \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by KellyM \* > > \*\*It is illegal to call yourself “Doctor” if you do so for the purpose of deceiving someone as to your skills, qualifications, or credentials, where such deception would amount to fraud. \*\* > > That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. So why does Dr. Laura get away with it? She has a PhD in physiology but she represents herself as a therapist. Isn’t that fraud? \*\* Actually, Dr. Laura repeatedly reminds her listeners that her degree is in physiology, not psychology. Her program is about ethics and morals (her perspective – not necessarily mine or yours), not psychology. I prefer to listen to [Dr. Toni Grant](http://www.drtoni.com/). She’s a _real_ psychologist and doesn’t jump down the throat of her callers, although she’s not above telling someone they’re manipulative (or controlling) if they come across that way. ~~Baloo ---
**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:** [November 19, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/26 "2000-11-19T02:05:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ashleth \* > \*\*HOw can it be illegal to practice law without a license… I thought you were allowed to defend yourself in court… If thats not practicing law, I’m not quite sure what is? > > I’ve got a question relating to this whole Dr. thing… Why do biology PhD’s often use the title doctor, while chemists use professor? \*\* I was never aware of this difference between biology and chemistry professors. At UCLA and UCSD we addressed our professors as “Dr X”, unless, as very often was the case, they asked us to call them by their first names. This is California, after all. We’d talk \*about \* them as “Professor X”, but I almost never heard anyone address them as Professor X. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/27 "2000-11-19T15:23:15Z")
I’m sure Mr. Pibb has occasionally been tempted to pretend he has a doctorate degree, but his conscience has held him back. One wonders whether his better-known colleague, Dr. Pepper, would be in the position he is without the title… ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/28 "2000-11-19T16:37:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Dr. J > > I’ve never heard anyone ask for his credentials. You rang? 🙂 There is considerable debate on this subject when it comes to medical students. Some people (mostly the younger folks) believe that you shouldn’t call someone “Dr.” until he has an M.D. There are others who believe that since we’re wearing the white coat, performing in the capacity of a doctor, and just a year or two away from it, that it’s OK. My textbook on medical interviewing, in fact, says that it’s OK for medical students to insist that patients call them “Doctor”. I disagree–I would never insist on that, and I am always careful to tell patients that “I’m just a student” when they call me “Doctor”. They usually shrug it off and call me that anyway. I don’t mind–I kind of like the ego boost, really. (If they ask what to call me, I tell them, “Just don’t call me late for dinner.” That still slays the E. Kentucy folks.) Ukulele Ike: > [@](#): > > I personally feel that really smokin’ bluegrass fingerpickers should be allowed and even encouraged to call themselves “Doctor.” > > “…on mandolin and vocals…Doctor Samuel Bush! On banjo…Doctor Bela Fleck! On dobro…Doctor Gerald Douglas!” You mean like “Dr. Ralph Stanley”? He got an honorary Ph. D. from somewhere at some point, and actually uses the “Dr.” title. He’s a legend, but he’s the most shameless self-promoter I’ve ever seen. BTW, Messrs. Fleck, Bush, and Douglas, along with Bryan Sutton, Mark Schatz, and Stuart Duncan, are touring together briefly in the next few weeks. One of the stops is here in Lexington, as part of the folk music series that I volunteer for. I’ll gloat all about it afterwards. 🙂 “Dr.” J ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/29 "2000-11-19T17:41:41Z")
I demand that Dr. Demento produce credentials attesting to his professional standing immediately, or we force him off the air. Hell, let’s just force him off the air anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Sheepshead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Mr.Sheepshead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Sheepshead)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/30 "2000-11-19T18:25:09Z")
…but until then, I feel if you must give yourself a special title, you should try Reverend. I love getting mail addressed to the Reverend Joseph P. McKnight, Church of Joe. Makes the junk mail more interesting. Plus when you look through the old high school student directory, you see “McKnight, Reverend Joseph P.”. And it makes people think the kid who went around carving pentagrams into the heads of all the pictures of Einstein in the Physics lab has finally seen the light. _heh heh heh…_ ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/31 "2000-11-19T18:47:28Z")
I agree with **CalMeecham** Ph.D on my business cards. Dr. only to my (former) students and when I’m feeling pompous. In addition I don’t call myself Dr. because with the assumption of an M.D. also comes the invariable questions about health. Personally, I really don’t care to hear about your hemorrhoids. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/32 "2000-11-19T19:41:50Z")
One might have to be careful. In some state, like Illinois, it is against the law to present yourself as something you’re not. That is why you, for instance, can’t wear a police uniform. It has been used in the past to prosecute cross-dressers (representing yourself as a woman-if you’re a man) But what if you change your first name to Doctor? Or if you’re folks name you that? ---
**Author:** ![DrDoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DrDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDoom)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/33 "2000-11-19T19:56:07Z")
This doctor vs professor thing is a little confusing to me. What does it mean in Germany if someone is refered to as: Herr Doktor Professor Ing (whatever) vs Herr Doktor? ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/34 "2000-11-19T20:21:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > **One might have to be careful. In some state, like Illinois, it is against the law to present yourself as something you’re not. That is why you, for instance, can’t wear a police uniform. It has been used in the past to prosecute cross-dressers (representing yourself as a woman-if you’re a man)** Most states have stopped enforcing or have repealed laws that are used in that general a way – there are serious constitutional implications. The Stonewall riots resulted from NYPD harassment of crossdressers under a NY law which was interpreted to forbid crossdressing. It is illegal to wear a police uniform because there are specific laws that prohibit impersonating a police officer. Laws which prohibit impersonation generally are probably unconstititional unless the statute requires proving an intent to defraud as part of the offense. ---
**Author:** ![Short](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Short](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/35 "2000-11-19T20:59:49Z")
Here is the great State of Washington, the law is as follows (RCW 18.71.021) > [@](#): > > **No person may practice or represent himself or herself as practicing medicine without first having > a valid license to do so.** it is also illegal to represent yourself as a naturopathic doctor (RCW 18.36A.030) > [@](#): > > \*\* (1) No person may practice naturopathy or represent himself or herself as a naturopath without first applying for and receiving a license from the secretary to practice naturopathy. > (2) A person represents himself or herself as a naturopath when that person adopts or uses any title or any description of services that incorporates one or more of the following terms or designations: Naturopath or doctor of naturopathic medicine. > \*\* as well as a psychologist, an architect or (effect July, 2001) a geologist. On the flip side, I did know someone here in WA who used to call himself on official documents the Reverend Doctor… MD, PhD, ThD. I don’t think he had any of them, but was never prosecuted. My guess the only time you’d really get prosecuted is if you tried calling yourself “Doctor” in a hospital, accident scene etc… That is use the title to pass yourself as a doctor. Anybody see Mr. Bean the movie? I don’t see anything forbidding the use of “Senator” or “the Honorable.” In fact, I think I’ll use one of them next time I make dinner reservations. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Pinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dr.Pinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Pinky)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/36 "2000-11-19T21:27:02Z")
My degrees are in disinformation (with a minor in forgery), crptozoology, and ancient Byzantine philately. I’m also a pope of the church of the visible pink foreskin, but I won’t insist on the full “His High Holy Rev. Dr. Pinky Pope” title… no need to get _ludicrous_ or anything… ---
**Author:** ![Stimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@Stimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/37 "2000-11-19T21:31:14Z")
How about ‘Sir’? I get letters all the time that begin ‘Dear Sir…’. Now, lets say I wanted an extra half hour in the swimming pool after my particular rubber band (blue) had run out. Could I not say my name was Sir Stimpy in order to swing some lee-way my way? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/38 "2000-11-19T22:27:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDoom \* > \*\*This doctor vs professor thing is a little confusing to me. What does it mean in Germany if someone is refered to as: > Herr Doktor Professor Ing (whatever) vs Herr Doktor? \*\* As someone else stated, “Doctor” merely indicates a professional (or honorary) degree: M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., etc. “Professor” is an academic rank at a college or university: full professor, associate professor, and assistant professor. These days, vitually all professors also have doctorates, at least in the U.S., although that wasn’t always the case. In many other countries one can be a professor without having a doctorate. However, many doctors are not professors. I have a Ph.D., but since I don’t work at a university, I am not a professor, and I have to correct people when they address me as such. The only time I identify myself as “Dr.” outside of professional contexts is when I’m having a dispute with a credit card company or the phone company, on the theory that they might actually take me more seriously. I can’t speak about the system in Germany, but I assume it’s the same. But Germans like to lard on the honorifics, so they will address you by all the titles you are entitled to. BTW, **DrDoom** , what’s your doctorate in? Are you also Professor Doom? As we used to say in grad school: B.S. = Bull Shit M.S. = More Shit Ph.D. = Piled higher and Deeper ---
**Author:** ![\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e47c2d/32.png) [@\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Tim)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/39 "2000-11-20T05:50:50Z")
I can refer to myself as Dr. (X), where X=Tim, but I do have a doctorate. 🙂 But seriously, I tend to agree with Colibri; I’ll answer to either Mr. or Dr. in practice. It’s occasionally useful in knowing quickly if a phone call is unimportant, as friends/family will call me by my first name, professional contacts will use Dr., and people trying to sell me something or taking surveys will use Mr. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562/40 "2000-11-20T09:11:11Z")
'Course, I have the opposite problem. If I were to refer to myself as Doctor, I would get weird looks, despite the fact that I hold a doctorate (and the three stripes on my robe to prove it). SuaSponte, J.D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salutation-is-it-legal-to-call-yourself-dr-x/41562.md?page=3)