Is "Doctor" a Protected title?!


Question: Is "Doctor" a Protected title?
Now a user springs to mind that quite clearly has a grudge against my profession.
He's moved on from misleading the public about my Primary care practitioner status and level of my qualification. Now what?
An Implication that we are falsly using the title Doctor.....
AS IF ITS PROTECTED!!!

Look t some quotes form his answer:
###The bottom line of the article is that the bare title "Doctor" is not protected in New Zealand. It is perfectly acceptable to be a "Car Doctor"#####
NOT A PROTECTED TITLE. Anyone can call themselves Doctor.

####However:
"When a CAM practitioner uses the title of ‘Doctor’ in the course of their business, if they are not a NZ registered medical practitioner,#####
Correct. NZ Registered medical practitioner IS THE PROTECTED TITLE.

####it is possible that, according to the Act, they commit “an offence punishable on summary conviction” by monetary fine.####
It is POSSIBLE if the public are led to believe that the honorary bearer of the NON PROTECTED TITLE is misleading the public to believe that they are holders of the protected title of NZ REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.

###Use of the title ‘Doctor’ by CAM practitioners who have a traditional non-medical doctorate...may also be misleading, according to the intent of the HPCAA..."###

Only if they advertise that they are medical practitioners. The title doctor does not equate to medical practitioner by default although that is the common perception.

###Thus, NZ law, as it stands, appears to be regularly violated by osteopaths, chiropractors, and similar bum-pinchers, who, for now, can get away with it. (Note: In the UK, misuse of the "Doctor" title in a medical context is expressly forbidden, in law and in Advertising Standards).####
No it isn't. I've already explained why.
It would be an offence for an NZ medical practitioner to claim that they were an Osteopath. These are the titles that are protected, not the title "Doctor".

Interestingly, although the medical profession have no business complaining of other people wrongly using the title doctor a few of them (and people who support them but usually have far lower qualifications than PHd) are the only ones who complain.

The title "Doctor" comes from the latin "docere" meaning "to Educate". This title was given out 100's of years ago to people who achieved Phd's ironically because they had 'learn't', rather than any ability to teach.
Because the role of the medical profession was seen as to educate patients it was thought to be a good idea to give the medical profession this title too......

So now Most bearers of the title are honorary bearers and have not achieved the suitable standard of education of PHd in order to actually use that title.....
Inspite of that they do....
Inspite of that they complain that other people are muscling in on their territory (Ha, Ha!) by using the title.....
Hmm.. Kettle pot and black are words that come to mind here.

People who actually earned the title seldom use it (because they don't want to be mistaken with legalised drug dealers either). I have never met One Phd graduate that cares what honorary title I use.

####(Note: In the UK, misuse of the "Doctor" title in a medical context is expressly forbidden, in law and in Advertising Standards).####
Yep. We decided not to in the UK partly as a concession to the medical profession and also because we didn't want to be mistaken with people who deal in drugs. Chiropractors didn't bother sparing their feelings are freely use the title. Practitioners of TCM also use the title. Neither are breaking the law.

#####It is further recommended that CAM practitioners who are not medically registered practitioners must accept that in New Zealand they are not entitled to use the courtesy title ‘Doctor’ and cease to do so at the earliest available opportunity. It is suggested that a ‘period of grace’ be allowed...prior to the legality of this behaviour being challenged.

Should someone in New Zealand blow the whistle on these phony "Doctors" and force the issue by initiating court action?
####

It has been challenged and probably will be again.
I'd love to see him in court so that I could openly abuse him so please do take this action Kalos.
So far its never stood up as a legal challange because it doesn't hold water.
Personally, I don't care. Its not on my business cards or on my advertising and I only occasionally sue the title if I'm signing a letter regarding my occupation. In NZ most doctors are happy for their patients to call them Doug, or Depak, or John or Simone rather than "Doctor __________".
NZ is a very egalitarian culture.


Clearly this user has a grudge against my glorious profession as his attacks and harassment defy logic.
What are your thoughts.

Answers:

Are you claiming to be a Dr of Osteopathy? You certainly don't behave like a doctor. I'm skeptical, please provide some evidence.

-------
EDIT: You say: "How does a doctor behave? kill at least 10 of their patients by mistake perhaps?
Prescribe poison because "its good for you!"? Treat patients, members of the public and those that pay for them with a complete lack of respect?"

Clearly you are not a doctor of any kind; you are a dangerous crank.



According to you, no. I'd feel cheap calling myself a doctor if I REALLY wasn't, you?

Also, tldr.



Depends on the jurisdiction.
In Canada the only people who can advertise the title are md's, chiropractors and dentists. Title protection is legislated as part of a regulated health professions act.
Patients on the whole really don't care. Society as a whole has become so informal people are more apt to address each other by first names anyhow.
The worst case of ego involving titles came when I heard some woman refer to herself as "Mrs. Dr."
when the rest of us referred to her husband as "Bill".
Stop letting that agitator get your goat. No one cares about his petty opinions.
Ignore the pettiness in other people. It's not worth your time.



My thoughts when you start with "Now a user springs to mind that quite clearly has a grudge against my profession." is how would you know when you only joined today. Did you actually take time out from your doctoring going back through all the past archives or are you just another sock?

Well those are my thoughts.

I did love this part though

"####(Note: In the UK, misuse of the "Doctor" title in a medical context is expressly forbidden, in law and in Advertising Standards).####
Yep. We decided not to in the UK partly as a concession to the medical profession and also because we didn't want to be mistaken with people who deal in drugs.

Nothing to do with it being illegal then, the collective "you" decided not to do it even though the collective "you" did elsewhere.

This is one long rant and we (TINW) don't know what you're talking about because you don't actually say in all that ranting what your job is, seeing to expect us to just know who created this new sock.




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