| In recent years, I've frequently heard people claim | | | | should we bend over backwards and let their |
| that individuals who hold PhDs are not "real" | | | | misperceptions rule? Would it not be better to |
| doctors. These people assert that only physicians | | | | educate people on the historical, established usage |
| can rightfully claim this title, and that it's | | | | of this term--usage that persists to this day? |
| inappropriate for PhD-holders to use this term. | | | | Some say, "If you refer to a PhD-holder as |
| Frankly, I'm surprised. I thought it was common | | | | 'Doctor Smith,' then people will assume that he's a |
| knowledge that there are both medical and | | | | physician. So what happens if there's a medical |
| non-medical doctors, and that this is a legitimate | | | | emergency? Do you want people running to |
| term to use in both situations. Apparently though, | | | | Smith for medical help?" Frankly, I think that this |
| common knowledge isn't always as common as | | | | argument betrays a low opinion of the public's |
| one would hope. For this reason, I'd like to take a | | | | intelligence; it assumes that people are too |
| moment to dispel some of the myths behind this | | | | dim-witted to learn, and that we may as well |
| title. (For the sake of brevity, I shall henceforth | | | | accept the inevitable. Personally,I would rather |
| focus on the PhD degree; however, the same | | | | fight ignorance gently than assume such a lowly |
| arguments hold for comparable degrees such as | | | | opinion of the common man's intellience. Would |
| the ScD and the ThD). | | | | some people continue to think that only physicians |
| Can PhDs legitimately claim to be doctors? | | | | merit this title? Probably so--but I suspect that |
| Absolutely! The term "doctor" is derived from the | | | | the vast majority of individuals are intelligent |
| Latin verb docere, which means "to teach." | | | | enough to learn otherwise. |
| Historically, it refers to a teacher or, by extension, | | | | For some reason, many also think that the MD is |
| a scholar. It did not specifically refer to a physician. | | | | much more difficult to attain than a PhD. I can |
| This title was later co-opted by the medical | | | | understand why; after all, we've all heard horror |
| community though, due to the respect and | | | | stories about medical students working long hours |
| prestige that it imputes. In one of life's great | | | | and stayin up all through the night. However, |
| ironies, many uninformed laypeople now percieve | | | | people simply don't realize how laborious a PhD |
| the medical degree to be more prestigious than | | | | program can be. PhD students often have to |
| the lowly PhD, declaring that people who have | | | | engage in long hours of grueling studies and |
| earned the latter are "not real doctors." | | | | research if they wish to complete their studies in |
| Some people say, "Well, most people only think of | | | | a timely fashion. I'd say that when it comes to |
| physicians as doctors. According to the rules of | | | | years of study, PhD programs are more |
| common usage then, PhD-holders shouldn't use | | | | demanding as well; when starting from a |
| this title." I understand the appeal of this | | | | bachelor's degree, a PhD typically takes from six |
| argument, but frankly, I think it's fallacious. There | | | | to eight years to complete, as opposed to four |
| are many individuals that are known to the public | | | | years for the medical degree. |
| as "Doctor"--Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Joyce | | | | When someone declares that physicians are the |
| Brothers and Dr. Laura Schlessinger. None of | | | | only real doctors, he is simply mistaken. I'd say |
| these individuals has a medical degree, and yet | | | | that PhDs have every right to this title--and I say |
| they are commonly accorded this title. | | | | that based on the title's etymology, the demands |
| Moreover, I think that this argument panders to | | | | of their programs and the accepted, |
| ignorance, rather than fighting it. If a large portion | | | | contemporary usage of this term, even outside |
| of the population thinks that (or acts as though) | | | | of academic circles. |
| only MD-holders truly merit the title of "doctor," | | | | |