Mr. (or Ms.) vs Dr.

This is something I've never encountered before. Apparently in some parts of the world, notably in the UK, surgeons are referred to as "Mister" or "Ms." instead of "Doctor". Minnesotastan ran across a literary reference in which a surgeon was offended when called "Doctor." Commenter Phyllis says:

Yes. In the UK, surgeons used to be LESS THAN doctors (who were educated and gave out medicines and didn't get their hands dirty like those plebeian surgeons).

Even though they are more like the US now, where they are doctors PLUS extra training, it seems that the term has persisted.

Now I wonder about other countries. How do people refer to medical practitioners and surgeons where you come from? Link

(Image credit: Flickr user Salim Fadhley)

Newest 5

Newest 5 Comments

I'm in Australia - a few years ago I had a knee reconstruction, and during a consultation with the surgeon I referred to him as 'Dr Henderson' and his assisting surgeon leaned in and whispered 'It's MR Henderson'! Well, I'm sorry!

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Am currently a med student in Australia and its like that here too! The general public calls surgeons Dr, but within the medical profession itself they are referred to as Mr. Its sort of a reverse snobbery thing to set themselves apart from "normal" doctors.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

In Mexico everyone has a title. Doctors are obviously doctor, but anyone with a college degree is Licenciado, accountants are Contador (accountant), and teachers, musicians, master craftsmen (plumbers, construction workers, mechanics, you name it) are all Maestro.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

In France, we say Dr for any student passing a Doctorate (PhD) which corresponds to 7 years of studies completed by a thesis. Surgeons are Doctors with a specialty.