Doctors--who are they?

Abstract

The title "Doctor" has an interesting and not commonly understood inception, and those entitled to use the accolade Doctor have had an interesting evolution. The title is now used by a plethora of individuals with a variety of skills and levels of achievement. A random survey of the population reveals that the public strongly equates the bearer of the title Doctor as an MD-bearing individual, ie, a physician (94 percent), while only 23 percent of those who utilize the title are truly physicians. This discrepancy leads to confusion in interpretation of persons introduced as Doctor in newspapers, books, and television, and in daily life. Physicians themselves contribute to the problem, as 40 percent refer to themselves as Doctor when asked to describe what they do for a living. Public education is recommended regarding the use of the title Doctor, and a distinction (the actual degree obtained) should be used whenever this term is used.