Drs. Various and Sundry wrote: > > ".... Psychologists earn PhDs, and AP style allows the 'Dr.' title only > for those with medical degrees". > > I, and > the faculty who were responsible for my education at the graduate > level believe that the PhD is the degree that is most eligible to be > called Dr. since it predates the MD by a long time. The original > PhD's were recognized for being scholars. The original "medical > doctors" were recognized for being barbers. Who deserves the title of > Doctor more?
We should also consider this issue from a Eurocentric, specifically a Britcentric perspective. Some (male) medical doctors in the UK are correctly addressed as Mr. rather than Dr. These are doctors who have qualified for a surgical speciality, including certain fields not usually considered surgical, such as urology. So they may start out addressed as Dr. but as they gain further qualification, ascend to merit the title of Mr. This quaint and undoubtedly confusing practice appears to have had its origin in the fact that early doctors were university-educated while surgeons had no formal qualifications (Loudon, 2000). (First noticed this while watching that great Brit hospital drama, _Casualty_, which began long before US TV's _ER_, and probably inspired it). Loudon, I. Why are (male) surgeons still addressed as Mr? . BMJ 2000;321:1589-1591 ( 23 December ) Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
