I have a Ph.D., but when I go to my physician's office, everyone, from the receptionist to the nurse to the physician himself calls me by my first name. Okay, so they don't know that I'm also called "doctor." But what really riles me is that when I introduce myself as "Doctor . . . ," or when I call and identify myself as "Doctor . . . ," they still call me by my first name.
Another thing that gets my goat is how every one in the physican's office calls all patients by their first name, even patients who are in the 70s or 80s. Now, I'm probably old fashioned in this regard, but I believe that everyone older than about 20 or so should be called "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Ms.," or "Dr." (if that person has any kind of doctorate degree).
And the same goes for my bank, credit card company, local newspaper, etc., or anyone who calls me and isnt' a friend of mind. Show some respect.
The only exceptions are when someone tells you that you can call them by their first name.
But back to you medical doctors out there. My degree says the same thing yours does: Doctor. Just because we generically call physicians "doctor," doesn't mean you are the only doctors. So, get over your ego trip. I went to school for as many years as you did and as a university professor, I think I do as much good, maybe even saving some lives (metaphorically), as you do.
So, unless you want me to call you by your first name, call me "Doctor" okay?
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When I speak directly to any of my physicians, I call them by their first names. I assume my PhD gives me equal standing. None have responded negatively. It may help that I am now older than most of my doctors.
ReplyDeleteWhen referring to my doctors to a third person, such as a nurse or secretary, I adopt the "Dr." honorific, and I try to do the same with students. The norm in department is that undergraduate students refer to us as "Doctor _______" or "Professor _____." When speaking to my colleagues directly, with students absent, I use their first names (of course) but if I refer to one of my colleagues to a student I adopt their language and say "Professor ______." Sometimes I forget and use their first names out of habit.
So what do your friends' children call you? When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s (ugh) it was the norm to call grownups "Mr" or "Mrs." Now few children do.