Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith – one has been practicing medicine for 20 years and has a specialization in cardiology; the other completed a PhD in electrical engineering last year. Based on their title, how would you know the difference? Which one would you trust to save your life, should you go into cardiac arrest?
The majority of trainees and staff working at UHN collaborate in a health care setting, with a variety of professions often involved in decision-making and research. The difference between those with a medical degree and doctor of philosophy is vital, especially in the context of patient care and transparency. While referring to someone with a medical degree, ‘doctor’ tends to be the intuitive tendency for individuals; however, the historical origin of the word actually favours the researcher. Doctor, derived from the Latin term ‘docere’ meaning ‘to teach’, was initially used in the middle ages to describe prestigious scholars with exclusive teaching qualifications. The origin of the title holds meaning for many academics. In a response letter to an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. James Winter states, “…when we are asked in a physician’s or a dentist’s office what kind of doctor we are, we respond: the real one. We are the ones who teach the others.”
Over the years however, the term was adopted by physicians. In a letter written by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, concern was raised regarding this labelling from a patient perspective. The letter reports, “Within a health care setting, the public typically associates the title ‘doctor’ with those who provide medical treatment and advice. Identifying non-physician doctorates by the title ‘doctor’ may lead to misconceptions from the public that such individuals, when working in a health care setting, are able to offer medical treatment and advice.”
The Associated Press Stylebook, which is a style guide for the media to standardize mass communications, states that the title of ‘Dr.’ is to be limited to those practicing medicine and treating patients. This is to not misinform the audience of the expertise of the individual being discussed. While individuals with a doctor of philosophy absolutely deserve to be recognized for their training and academic pursuits, other designations—such as ‘PhD’ or ‘Scientist’—can still indicate to the audience their expertise without compromising transparency to the public.
Overall, an individual’s credentials should be acknowledged to ensure expertise is not delegitimized. However, having explicit titles or designations to limit confusion, especially for a lay person or patient, is extremely important.
