Doctor (title) - Doctor As A Noun - Healthcare

Healthcare

Dependent on the country under discussion, healthcare professions such as audiology, chiropractic, clinical psychology, dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy, homeopath, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and veterinary medicine may use the title doctor professionally.

In the United States, those training to become physicians complete a four-year undergraduate course of study, followed by a four-year graduate program in medicine to earn either the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Those training to become audiologists, podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, nurses, or pharmacists also complete a four-year undergraduate course of study, followed by a four-year post-graduate program to earn the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), respectively. Some programs offer programs with two pre-professional years followed by four professional years, while others require a four year undergraduate/bachelor's degree. Doctors of Physical Therapy and doctors of occupational therapy complete a four-year undergraduate course of study, followed by a three to four year graduate program to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) respectively.

In Canada, healthcare professions for which members may be called by the title of doctor are: Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry, Vetereinary medicine, Chiropractic and, more recently, Pharmacy. Members of these professions generally complete a minimum of 2 years science studies, followed by a four-year undergraduate program in medicine to earn either the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M), Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) and, in some provinces, Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.).

In the United Kingdom, those training for the medical profession complete either a 5–6 year course of study or an accelerated 4-year graduate entry course of study that leads to the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS or MBChB, standing for the Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus et Chirurgiae Baccalaureus). The higher postgraduate degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) is reserved for those who can prove a particular distinction in the field, usually through a body of published work or the submission of a dissertation. To be eligible for a MD degree in the UK one must already hold an entry level medical degree (for example, MBBS, MBChB, BMed, or a North American MD degree) and usually must have had at least 5 years of post graduate training and experience. In guidance issued by Who's Who published by A & C Black, it is noted that in the context of the UK, "not all qualified medical practitioner hold the (M.D.) degree" but that "those ... who have not taken it are addressed as if they had." A & C Black also note that British surgeons – a designation reserved for those who have obtained membership of the Royal College of Surgeons – are addressed as Mr, Mrs or Miss rather than Dr. This custom has been commented on in the British Medical Journal and may stem from the historical origins of the profession. Those training to become dentists usually graduate with a dental degree (for example, BDS, BDent, BDentSc, BChD, and so on) and are also referred to as "doctor". In the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on January 19, 1996, health minister Gerald Malone noted that the title doctor had never been restricted to either medical practitioners or those with doctoral degrees in the UK, commenting that the word was defined by common usage but that the titles "physician, doctor of medicine, licentiate in medicine and surgery, bachelor of medicine, surgeon, general practitioner and apothecary" did have special protection in law.

In India, MBBS and BDS (graduate entry) medical degree is required to become a doctor. The higher postgraduate Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) is required to become a specialist in a particular field.

In German language-speaking countries, the word Doktor refers to a research doctorate awardee in formal language (similar to a PhD), and is distinct from Arzt, a medical practitioner. Though colloquial use of the word Doktor for physician is common.

In the Dutch language the word "dokter" refers to a physician, whereas "doctor" refers to high academic rank.

The French language is similar, with "médecin" and "docteur". A French medical degree is called "Un diplôme d'État de docteur en médecine" which is distinct from a (research) doctorate, "Un doctorat (de recherche)". However "Docteur" may be used as a courtesy title when speaking to a physician, e.g., "Bonjour Docteur".

Hong Kong follows British practice in calling physicians "Doctor" even though many of them hold only an MBBS qualification. An attempt by their professional body to prevent chiropractors from calling themselves "Doctor" failed in the courts, in part because it was pointed out that practicing chiropractic physicians hold a doctorate in their discipline, and it would be anomalous to prevent them using the title when holders of doctorates in non-medical disciplines faced no such restriction.