The Veterinary Record 157:716 (2005)
© 2005 British Veterinary Association
Doctor, doctor
C. B. Hart1
1 Fram, Frithsden Copse, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4
2RG
SIR, - I was intrigued by David Hadrill's letter (VR, November 5,
2005, vol 157, p
600)
putting the case for veterinary surgeons to be given the title Dr. Like him, I
worked overseas, although only for a short time, and I soon accepted being
addressed as Dr.
The idea that because someone with a PHD `worked for his title
"Dr";' there is an implication that veterinary students do not
work for their qualification is absurd. Apart from anything else, statistics
suggest that it is easier to obtain a place in a medical college than in a
veterinary college. Nor do I think that the case for being called Dr is
advanced by the views of one ignorant policeman.
A change to the title Dr brings with it all the confusion currently borne
by medical doctors of being indistinguishable from DSCs and
PHDs in innumerable non-medical subjects. We should also remember
that human surgeons bear the title `Mr' (or its female equivalents). In
lighter vein, let us not forget that to `doctor' something is to interfere
with it in some reprehensible way, but to `vet' something is to examine it
very thoroughly.
