Insisting on being called Doctor

I don't have much recollection of this but my Mum has told me when I was a kid we had a family Doctor who was in his 70's called Dr Hardy and he insisted on being addressed as Dr Hardy. Apparently even the practice staff werent allowed to call him by his first name. My Mum said she took me once when I was about 8 to see him. He examined me and apparently at one point he had me lay down on his exam table and was palpating my stomach and he asked me if I had any pain. I replied 'no' and he apparently stopped and looked at me and said 'no what? I looked at him and didn't say anything so he said 'No Dr Hardy' I said 'No Dr Hardy' and he said 'thats better' and carried on examining me. My Mum said it was quite awkward lol

My family had a lot of ties into the medical community. My parents insisted I refer to them as doctor or doctor so-and-so out of respect for the profession. Was never aware if the doctors required it or not. Now, I use Dr or their first name, never been an issue.

I am one and, while it's always been nice to be called doctor, I've never insisted on it. When I was in practice most patients did but friends and colleagues just called me by my name. Now that I'm retired very few people call me doctor. However, I always address those doctors treating me as "doctor " out of respect and courtesy. Interestingly, most of them call me doctor as well. Go figure.

This is one of those great minor, trivial things that I love and I am glad other people appreciate them too. Back in the 80s, at the clinic where my most memorable and formative physicals happened, there were a few doctors and all the staff, including the PAs who did a lot of the stuff there, ALWAYS called them "Dr. ____" and would respond with "yes, doctor" and "no, doctor" or say things like "we're ready for you, doctor" and I was always told by my parents to also have the same respect.

I was brought up to be respectful. I always 2ould answer yes or no doctor. In the Navy, it was the same, never by their rank. Now I use the same title I earned as a Corpsman, Doc,

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I have always felt that anyone who completes four years of college plus four years of medical school plus a residency of a few years has earned the title of Doctor and deserves to be called by the title of Doctor, or typically, Doctor with their last name, for example, Dr. Johnson.

Having said that, I have met a handful of physicians who, when introducing themselves for the first time, have said, "Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. You can call me Dr. Johnson or my first name of Franklin is fine, too--whatever you are most comfortable with works for me."

The couple of times I have heard that, I have been very impressed that while the physician has the title, she or he isn't hung up on the title being their identity. I'm impressed that they have earned the title in the first place, but I'm even more impressed that they don't need me to feed their ego by using the title in addressing them.

So, in my case, you can call me, "Sir Franklin Johnson of Riverton, Chief Supreme Mucky-Muck Head-Honcho, El Numero Uno" or you can just call me Frank, whatever you are most comfortable with works for me."

@Vasbyt says:.

I have always felt that anyone who completes four years of college plus four years of medical school plus a residency of a few years has earned the title of Doctor and deserves to be called by the title of Doctor, or typical Doctor with their last name, for example, Dr. Ross.

Having said that, I have met a handful of physicians who, when introducing themselves for the first time, have said, "Hi, I'm Dr. Ross. You can call me Dr. Ross or my first name of Bill is fine, too--whatever you are most comfortable with works for me."

The couple of times I have heard that, I have been very impressed that while the physician has the title, she or he isn't hung up on the title being their identity. I'm impressed that they have earned the title in the first place, but I'm even more impressed that they don't need me to feed their ego by using the title in addressing them.

I use my title/name similarly in my professional life. Dr. (My Last Name) or my shortened first name is fine by me, although I do introduce myself as Dr. (My Last Name) when meeting a new patient. I address other physicians as Dr. (Whoever) if I don’t know them personally.

Just don’t use Miss, Ms., or Mrs. when addressing me!