>

How is med school faster than a PhD? They both take about four years, and I would argue med school is harder than the vast majority of PhD programs. I didn’t finish but I took graduate classes in biotech at UMass and Harvard, they were easy as fuck.
How many people are fooled by a chiropractor calling themselves a “Doctor of chiropractic medicine” When they don’t go to medical school at all. >

Chiropractors and plastic surgeons absolutely should not be considered doctors >

Not all plastic surgeons do butt lifts and nose jobs… I had a breast reduction done by a plastic surgeon that quite literally changed my life. If a person is cutting into your body and removing stuff they have the right to call themselves a doctor… >

Physicians is a better term and is being increasingly used. >

I'd just like to point out that while you do get your MD after 4 years of medical school, the minimum residency training to actually be able to use that degree is 3 years. Most are 5 years. Some are 7+. 
An MD degree by itself is worthless. It's your training and speciality that allows you to practice. 
You're looking at 7-13 years before actually practicing. >

But you're "Dr" after just four years. >

If you expect to be called Dr. outside of the realm of your doctorate/profession, you should rightfully be laughed at. >

Agree, in middle school I had a teacher who had his Ph.D in musical theory.
Yea, he insisted that the students call him Doctor.
That is why I laugh at this thread and the person who created. it. >

Based on the comment, if he’s teaching musical theory, then it aight. If not, then it’s a big laugh situation >

PhD = philosophiae doctor (the doctor is in the title) 
A medical degree isn't automatically a Dr. Many do write some piss easy compilation of data, which isn't more work than a bachelor or master thesis. In the old days every medical practitioner also wrote a dissertation and got the degree. That stuck in the mind of most people. In German there is a difference between a "Doktor" and a "Arzt". The latter being everyone who completed medical studies at a university and could also write a dissertation to become a doctor. >

The main difference is that MDs are technicians. Smart technicians, but technicians nonetheless.
PhDs are intellectuals. They are the ones creating new medical knowledge, disproving the efficacy of current practices, etc.
All medical researchers hold PhDs. A handful hold a PhD and an MD degree. None, essentially, hold only an MD degree - they're simply not qualified to perform research. >

don't know why you got downvoted because you're exactly right. Maybe your word choice "technician" rubbed some people the wrong way. Another word might be "practitioner".
Medical doctorate is mostly "applied sciences", because, well, MD's are for people who want to practice medicine. >

How about we don't call anyone doctor unless it's work related.  I don't care what degree you do or don't have when I run into you in a social setting.  If you correct me when I call you "Mr" or "Mrs" and tell me it's actually "Dr" I lost all respect for you and there's nothing you could ever do to get it back. >

Correct. 
The only reason people give PhDs shit is because they feel the need to do this. 
If you call me Dr. out in public I will correct you towards using my first name. If someone goes the opposite way (I've only seen PhDs do this) I immediately think you're full of yourselves. >

You just destroyed your own argument by telling us that you are a doctor :-) >

In general, in a professional setting, PhDs and MDs are called doctors. Outside of it, we aren't. At least that's been my experience. 
Not sure why some people would want to be called doctor outside of work. But I called my professors doctor, when I did research I referred to the PhDs in the lab as Dr. But if we went out for dinner I'd use their first name. >

Then you have JDs who never even use the title Doctor in a professional setting. Any lawyer who demands to be called "Doctor" is seen as extremely pretentious. Source: I'm a lawyer. >

Good to know doc ;) >

I’m happy to say I’ve never encountered anyone who introduced themselves as “Doctor” (or any kind of title) in front of their name in a social setting, although I know it happens. But it’s kinda disappointing to wait all these years to reply that I’m the Arch Mage of the Council of Seven >

By that logic, American lawyers should also call themselves “doctor” because they have a Juris Doctor degree.  So lawyers are also doctors now? >

Yes. That’s common knowledge. >

Lol >

I don't know why you are laughing. That person is right. >

It’s common knowledge that lawyers are doctors?  You get a LMAO for that nonsense >

That’s why, professionally, they have JD after name. >

Instead of "many places", you should write "many places in the US" >

Unless they work in a hospital or medical setting, I agree. If they work in the medical field, calling them Dr may confuse the patients, other medical doctors, nurses, etc. >

Chiropractors ^ >

I’m confused. I thought everyone called them doctors? That’s how I refer to all of my professors >

Yes, because that is the appropriate way to address a person who has a doctorate. People just really get off on being wrong. >

In Italy you can call yourself "Dr." even with a bachelor degree, so "everyone" is a doctor ; D
That being said, is it even a problem if people make a joke about a PhD being a medic? It's just a joke, no reason to stress about it >

Dr. J was the original authority on the the most airudite dunks!! >

This unpopular opinion isn’t even an opinion, it’s a fact. 
People with MD degrees are physicians. Doctor is an academic title (which is not exclusive to MDs only and was originally intended only for PhDs). Doctor is not a profession. Physician is the name of the profession for someone with a MD. The problem is that most of the general population is extremely stupid and easily confused and doesn’t even know what you’re talking about when you say someone is a “physician” or that someone has a “doctorate” >

I've always thought they need different titles. My brother has a PhD and he literally makes sure he doesn't have the title Dr on his plane ticket/ passport in case an emergency occurs and they go to him 🤣 >

TIL that people will resort to the most bizarre and convoluted mental gymnastics to justify reverse snobbery rather than just use commonly accepted forms of address in English. >

OP is the dude who check into a flight and gets pissed off at the counter when they don’t call him Dr. Let’s not play the semantics game - we all know that Dr denotes MD generally speaking. When you correct with “Dr of xyz” we all know someone’s feewings got hurt. >

Thats "Dr Dude". How dare you not give me respect I deserve!!!! >

🤣 >

to be fair, I only get pissed when I go to the pub with my mates and they forget to call me Dr Dude. >

Tell them next time they eff up the title it’s their round >

That’s why doctors call themselves “physicians” >

I only needed my Dr title for when someone calls me a bitch, so that I can reply "that's Dr bitch for you". Totally worth the 4 years.
But seriously, I didn't even use it when I was still working as a postdoc, even for work related stuff.  Ppl often assumed I was a master student because I am quite young and also look young, which led to hilarious situations.
Also you can definitely get stripped of your PhD, for example, if someone can prove that you committed fraud. >

That’s nice. Pedantically correct I’m sure. But, you know, in the colloquial doctor is MD is doctor. >

Dr. Mike, I believe this order comes with a side of fries. >

there are people with PhDs in arts subjects out there who absolutely do not deserve to call themselves 'doctor'. these subjects are bollocks. i know because i have a fucking MA despite being an alcoholic. i couldn't pulll that shit in an actual science. >

If you have a doctorate you are a doctor >

When I was at uni in the UK most of the lecturers had the Dr title. It's commonplace really, except in America where they seem to use the title professor for any university teacher. In the UK the professor title is reserved for the head of department. Possibly this might explain why Americans don't hear the Dr title used much outside of the medical profession and thus find it weird when they come across it. >

People who disagree with this opinion are MORONS. It is a doctorate. Respect the education. >

I don't disagree, they can call themselves that but if someone on a plane and they have a heart attack, they aren't asking for someone with an Art History Ph. D, they want a medical professional. >

I mean, most medical doctors aren’t cardiologists or emergency room physicians either. Is a dermatologist or endocrinologist not a real doctor either? 
A paramedic isn’t a medical doctor but could also provide significant assistance during a medical emergency. You can’t exactly do heart surgery on an airplane. You can provide basic first aid, do CPR, identify symptoms etc. That’s about it. >

MDs are notorious for insisting on being called doctor. I have not heard one PhD or the equivalent (there are many doctorates) insist on being called doctor outside of a professional setting. I have heard many with an MD do it. The people who get pissed about PhDs even having the title doctor are almost always MDs who need to feel superior and are hurt that they have to share their shiny title with peons who don’t even BMW. >

1000% agree >

If Im seeing a PhD holder in a professional matter, of course Im gonna call them dr. If were out in life just living, Ill laugh in your face if you try to get me to call you dr. >

unless of course they are a Dr of Boxing or MMA >

It's pretentious.  Earned or not, it just comes off as though the person is overly concerned with titles and appearances. >

If I study for 8-12 years to earn a doctorate, I should rightly be able to use that title without it being pretentious. It sounds like you’ve got a chip on your shoulder. >

Sounds like you do. >

the title of doctor is only available to those who have a PhD because that's what the degree says. A medical doctor is not the same thing and should have the specification that they are a medical doctor
This topic always reminds me of Brooklyn 99 and the episode where Captain Holt goes on a rant about etymology because a dentist calls himself a doctor >

The degree says doctor of philosophy actually. >

The US system is so stupid - with a PhD you'd never be called a dr. over in the majority of Europe. Even the professor thing is stupid in the US, because most university teachers in the US have "only" finished a master's degree.
Where I am, it's a long process that requires several years of working in the field, several years of studying a certain subject. If you qualify for it, you need to write a doctorate, which will be judged by professors and other doctors of  around the world. 
So to gain a professor title, you need the following:
- Bachelors.
- Candidate/Masters.
- PhD.
- PostDoc (work experience)
- Adjunkt/Lector (work towards your subject field)
DOCTORATE
- Doctor.
- Associate Professor.
- Professor.
You also seem to forget that medical school is way longer than just a bach+master, and is in line with the added length (if not more) of a PhD, thus granting them the title DOCTOR OF MEDICINE.
Chripractors, though. AFAIK it's basically just a bachelors and a masters, so IDK why they are allowed to call themselves doctors of medicine. >


Even the professor thing is stupid in the US, because most university teachers in the US have "only" finished a master's degree.

Canada too, I know someone who may not even have a bachelor's degree (they have a diploma from a college), but got hired as a teacher and was granted the title "Professor".
So yeah, the word is meaningless. >

Anyone who demands to be called by a title like doctor who isn’t a medical doctor (only in medical setting) is wack. Use your name like every normal person. You went to school to learn and get the knowledge to be able to do what is required in your field at a high level not to use it as a status symbol. >

Kudos! Fully agree. >

If someone doesn't work in the medical field I'm not calling them Dr. and I will laugh in their face if they demand I do. >

If you go to University, you're going to have a mighty rough time when "Steve" gets to be called "Dr Smith" by students who don't laugh in his face. >

If you're a professor of history I have no problem with you calling yourself Doctor Smith at school or a professional setting... it's when you are out in the world requiring people to call you that where it feels like you're being a wanker. Doctors are medical doctors, you are not. Stop misrepresenting yourself.
Signed, a loser who quit a PhD program and left with a Masters. >

Medical doctors = physicians. They can be doctors when they defend a thesis and gain the ability to teach medicine. If you wonder why it sounds weird. Well that’s the problem of English language. >

I think that you will find that most (but admittedly not all) of the dupes teaching medicine have a PhD, not a medical degree. >

What about people with PhDs in theology like Dr. Dino? >

This is absolutely true. Particularly a STEM PhD. A medical degree (by my physician wife's own admission) is mostly memorization. My son's Astrophysics PhD required peer reviewed original research. In other words, actual science.