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Topic: Dr. vs Mr.  (Read 2523 times)

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Dr. vs Mr.
« on: April 10, 2008, 09:15:00 AM »
my friend was in hospital last week for "bloody cyst" on her overy- sounds lovely, right?

anyways- she was confused by Dr. GP, Mr. Registrar, Mr. Consultant.  That got me thinking about all the different nurses there are as well, practice nurses, district nurses, matrons, etc. 

Can anyone explain the difference between all of these "levels"?  Also, why are Registrars & Consultants referred to as Mr.?
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2008, 09:20:00 AM »
Dentists aren't called Dr over here either, generally.

Just checked with my coworker and she says that Mr. is a title of seniority in hospitals (for doctors), similar to Professor at universities here.
« Last Edit: April 10, 2008, 09:22:00 AM by springhaze »
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2008, 09:35:14 AM »
A lot of doctors don't call themselves Dr - it's just their preference. I've noticed (I work in the NHS) that PhD doctors are FAR more likely to refer to themselves as Dr so-and-so then medical doctors are.


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2008, 10:02:06 AM »
A doctor who is a Mr/Miss/Ms/Mrs is a specialist.  It's something to do with the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons I think.


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2008, 10:10:04 AM »
Just phoned my husband, who's a doctor (consultant), and calls himself one.  As do his colleagues.  Surgeons call themselves Mr.  According to my husband, this is because they were originally barbers, not medical people.  Gynecologists apparently are starting to call themselves Mr. (or Ms.?) and some dentists are starting to call themselves Dr. 

Consultants are senior (specialist) doctors, and registrars are trainees. 

There seem to be millions of grades of nurses.  My husband was actually in the hospital himself last summer, and I remember seeing posters showing the various grades of nurse, all distinguished by different combinations of uniform and belt color.

Interestingly (perhaps), my husband got his PhD before getting his medical degree, but never really used the title at that point.


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2008, 10:15:37 AM »
Now I'm even more confused!


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2008, 10:48:26 AM »
When I spoke to my husband, he said something about all this is different in Scotland, but I don't remember what.  I'll ask him when I speak to him again.  Maybe whatever it is, is the reason for your confusion, Britwife.


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2008, 10:51:58 AM »
I don't think it's different up here.  A Mr. or Mrs. denotes surgeon, Dr. is medical. 


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2008, 10:58:35 AM »
I think I'm getting confused because when I was pregnant the consultant obstetrician was a Mrs but her junior registrar was Dr.  That was in London so I guess it was just that particular doctor's preference to be Dr. rather than Ms.

I tried to look this up on Wkipedia but only found out that in the US some lawyers call themselves Dr because of the JD qualifcation!


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2008, 11:17:49 AM »
i think i'm even more confused than ever!

i sat next to a nurse at a wedding once, who took me through all the different colours nurse used to wear- light blue, royal blue, purple, and all the different belts- silver vs gold.  it was incredibly interesting, too bad i was a bit too tipsy to remember it all.
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2008, 01:01:44 PM »
I think I'm getting confused because when I was pregnant the consultant obstetrician was a Mrs but her junior registrar was Dr.  That was in London so I guess it was just that particular doctor's preference to be Dr. rather than Ms.

Very confusing!

My gyno consultant here in Wales was a Mr., so I suppose it must just be down to personal preference.
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2008, 03:06:51 PM »
I know when my newborn son went into the NICU unit, I was assigned to a Mr.  I of course, being hysterical and hormone ridden, demanded to know why I couldn't have a Dr.  ::)  The Mr was very patient with me, despite my cluelessness.
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2008, 12:44:24 AM »
My father-in-law is also a Mr.! He's a neurosurgeon and a consultant, and when I asked my mother-in-law why his title wasn't "Dr." she explained (as some others have on this post) that Mr. denotes seniority. Which I frankly find quite confusing still!

Veterinarians over there aren't doctors either. A degree in veterinary medicine is technically a bachelors to them! It doesn't bother me at all, but I won't deny that I will be proud to have my "DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine)" when the time comes and not a "BVSc (bachelors in veterinary science)"!
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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2008, 02:13:37 AM »
Interestingly (perhaps), my husband got his PhD before getting his medical degree, but never really used the title at that point.

He's a Doctor Doctor!  Oh, he should have been a surgeon.  Then he could confuse everyone and be Mister Doctor.  Hee! 

Okay... it's late and I'm a bit loopy.  I'll stop now.  ;D


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Re: Dr. vs Mr.
« Reply #14 on: April 11, 2008, 06:27:23 AM »
Oh, he should have been a surgeon.  Then he could confuse everyone and be Mister Doctor.  Hee! 

Mister Doctor?  Or he could just be German...


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