Can the "Dr." title of a Ph.D. holder be revoked if it is misused?

Question

I have seen some quack jobs making rediculous scientific/medical claims. Then they back their argument by using their Dr. title.

This includes advocating hallucinogenic drugs, claiming scientology as true science, communicating with the dead for profit, etc.

Answer 1

While I completely understand what you're saying...No, PhD's can not be "revoked." They are earned from a university that does not certify them in a professional board. NOW...if one's Ph.D is in psychology or nursing or psychiatry, and then they are also "board certified" in their fields, then YES, their board status could be revoked, but nobody is going to come and remove their diploma from the wall...

As "consumers" of research, we ALL have to be aware of how to verify the claims that we read...Thanks for thinking of this interesting question!

Answer 2

Good question. In all honesty, the only way to revoke the degree is to prove that they plagiarized their doctoral work. This is hard to prove.

You speak of quacks, yet I have been to MDs  who have misdignosed serious illnesses: do we stop calling them DR?

The world is full of 'doctors' who do not hold an EARNED degree, but either bought one, or were given a 'Doctor honore cause' which means an honorary doctorate. these are not earned and they are given a courtesy title.

Dr Timothy Leary advocated the use of LSD back in the 60s, and he was on the faculty at Harvard......... is he any less a doctor?