Should Only Medical And Scientific Persons Be Referred To As Doctors

[barney15c]

Jill Biden has been criticized for using her Doctorate title, which she earned in the field of education. Some have said that this should only be applied to those in the Medical and Scientific professions. The BBC's own style guide uses the title Dr to refer to doctors of medicine, scientific doctors and church ministers who hold doctorates, when relevant. What is the history of doctorates in other disciplines? Do you agree that those who have a Doctorate in say Education, Economics, Theology etc should call themselves Dr. I have no personal opinion either way.

[Karolina82]

I have a good friend who is a paediatric consultant and is known professionally as Miss *****

[Paigntonian]

Everyone in Italy with a Degree can, and mostly do, call themselves dottorre. Can't say that it's offensive in any way.

[andy-hughes]

They always called John Reid 'Doctor Reid' when he was Health Secretary, even though his PHD is in economic history.

[barney15c]

Priti Patel ;)

[barney15c]

^^^^ disregard that , answered wrong qurstion

[woofgang]

if you have got a doctorate, you are entitled to use the title....same as professor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctorate....its my understanding that medical doctors don't actually hold doctorates in the academic sense but are only degree holders.

[barney15c]

Liam Fox, also economics doctorate.

[Sqad]

Karolina, your friend is a surgeon and practises in the UK and hence, despite her degrees in Medicine, like all Consultants in surgery are referred to as Miss, Mrs or Mr.

In my opinion only someone with a PhD should rightly be called DOCTOR.

[jim360]

PhDs were Doctors before doctors were Doctors, so no.

If there's a risk of ambiguity -- such as when discussing medical stuff -- I'd say it's better to avoid using a title that has a common meaning, but other than that, if you've got it you may as well flaunt it.

Yours,

Dr. jim360 :)

[jno]

a lot of Herr Doktors in Germany too.

I can't see why church ministers could be called doctors and economics professors not.

[Old_Geezer]

If you have a doctorate then you may be referred to as doctor. Otherwise, not. One usually clarifies what the doctorate is in, otherwise folk are likely assume medicine, since that's what's commonly encountered.

[drmorgans]

In the introduction to the Reith Lectures former Bank of England governor Mark Carney is referred to as Dr Carney, which is relevant, I guess, as his talk was on economics / banking and his DPhil is in economic theory.

[woofgang]

I am not sure its up to the beeb to decide who should be called doctor and when. Surely its up to the title holder?

[royfromaus]

Jill Biden is not a doctor, not much more to say.

[jim360]

Does Jill Biden have a PhD or equivalent doctorate?

Answer: yes.

Therefore she's a doctor.

[tomus42]

// Jill Biden has been criticized for using her Doctorate title //

By whom? - Actually don't bother I think I can guess.

// Some have said //

Who exactly? - Actually don't bother I think I can guess.

If that's her title, she's entitled to use it.

[drmorgans]

Yet she holds a doctorate in education?

[Hopkirk]

Liam Fox was a medical doctor, and worked as a GP

[royfromaus]

She's a doctor of


'Have we got a doctor in the house?'
''Yes, Let me through, I'm a doctor''
'You've killed her'
''Yeah but not a bad attempt for a doctor of musical arts''