A client of mine is owned by a scientist from Germany. Today, I noted a few of their documents styled him in exactly the manner noted in the title: “Dr. Dr. Firstname Lastname.”
When I pointed out what I assumed was an error, I was told by the (exasperated) lady I work directly with that because he’s both a Ph.D. and MD, he insists he be styled “Dr. Dr.”
Is this standard in Europe, or Germany in particular? Anyone see this before?
Only when one is requesting delivery of the news.
It’s pretty standard in Germany to stack titles (“Herr Professor Doktor”).
From the Wikipedia article about the title of “Doctor”:
In Germany, double doctorates are indicated in the title by “Dr. Dr.” or “DDr.” and triple doctorates as “Dr. Dr. Dr.” or “DDDr.”. More doctorates are indicated by the addition of “mult.”, such as “Dr. mult.”.
I believe people from countries where this is not the norm are allowed to snicker quietly to themselves after using it.
Here’s a thread on the same subject from back in March:
If you have eight doctorates, you get attacked by Spiderman.
Well, yes, Germany is full of “Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult.” and so on. It sort of makes sense that in situations/documents formal enough to use a title in the first place, she insists on the correct formulation. Otherwise, what’s the fun in getting a bunch of higher doctorates?
I worked with an anesthesiologist who got a PhD in Germany. His German title was Herr Doktor.
I’ve heard of it in Germany. Also I knew a woman who held a PhD married to another PhD. In Germany she was styled as Dr Frau Dr _____. That was not at her request. She found it amusing.
Oh, very good.
Ninja’ed. @Cervaise dropped one of the best posts of the week. And from Germany no less.
Thank you for a real laugh today.
Yeah, that’s my recollection/experience too.
And I just assumed it was a Major Major Major Major type situation, where the person’s title and name were both Doctor.
So you’re three doctors, then?
True story. A female mathematician and professor married to a man who had two doctorates (both in math) and was also a professor was invited to give a talk in Vienna and was introduced to the audience as Professor Doktor Frau Professor Doktor Doktor P.
What’s up Doctor Doc?
Ain’t there nuthin’ I can take to relieve this bellyache?
The only one I know is Dr. Dr. Gimme The News
Then there’s the strange of Doctor Willard Bliss (“Doctor” was his first name), admiringly described by Wikipedia as a “pseudo-expert in ballistic trauma”. He went on to become an actual physician (sort of), made a name for himself in quackery and maneuvered into a position to treat President Garfield’s gunshot wound.