Why are Hospital Consultants referred to as "Mr" and not "Dr"?

Question

always wondered about that!

Answer 1

Tradition.

Answer 2

In English-speaking countries, the title doctor is strongly associated with the medical profession. Most medical practitioners use the title professionally and socially.

In the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries, those training for the medical profession take a five or six year course leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS and similar abbreviations);[7] the higher postgraduate degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) is reserved for those who can prove a particular distinction on the field, usually through a body of published work or the submission of a dissertation.[8] In guidance issued by Who's Who publisher A & C Black,[9] it is noted that in the context of the United Kingdom, "not all qualified medical [practitioners] hold the [MD] degree" but that "those ... who have not taken [it] are addressed as if they had."

A & C Black also note that British surgeons - a designation reserved for those who have obtained fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons - are addressed as Mr, Mrs or Miss rather than Dr. This custom has been commented on in the British Medical Journal and may stem from the historical origins of the profession.[10]

Answer 3

Consultant surgeons are known as Mr, medics are Dr.

Answer 4

Because they aren't at that level ?

Answer 5

It dates back to the early 18th century. Physicians were distinguished by a medical degree - MD.  If qualified abroad could buythem from the University of Aberdeen at the then price of £20.  Imagine that in today's money.

Possession of the MD entitled them to be called doctor..

18th century surgeons seldom had formal qualifications and were called Mr,

In 1800 the Royal College of Surgeons was founded, it became customary to take the exam for membership.  MRCS - Menber of the Royal College of Surgeons.  Female surgeons are Mrs, Miss or Ms.  Males retained the Mr.

It's mainly in the UK and the Irish Republic Mr is used, not always used in Australia or New Zealand. I beliebe sometimes in Canada, not sure about the rest of the world.

Answer 6

As you are climbing the medical ladder, you are known as doctor. When you have passed every exam and gained your consultancy, you have the privelidge of being known as Mr. I think that it lets people know that they are deallng with the most qualifed person available. I think that the very top step is Proffessor, although it's highly unusual for them to see the general public. They usually are mainly involved in research. Not sure what a wee wifie consultant is refferd to as..  

Answer 7

The division -- in the UK at least -- is actually between physicians (regular doctors) and surgeons, rather than between consultants and other ranks of medics.

In the UK, calling a medic "Doctor" is in most cases a courtesy or "professional" title.

Regular doctors are actually Bachelors of Medicine (MB = "Medicinae Baccalaureus") and Bachelors of Surgery (BS or BCh). Only a few go on to qualify as MD (Doctor of Medicine; literally "Medicinae Doctor"). Historically, "doctor" is a word applied to someone qualified to teach in a university (these days we would call them "professor".)

But all physicans are referred to as doctor, by convention, whether they're MBs or MDs.

However, in times past, surgeons were apprencticed, not academically trained. (Their profession grew from the trade of barber-surgeons, who used to cut hair, pull teeth and do what passed for surgery in medieval times.) They were "masters" of their craft (the term was "master of the mystery of surgery") -- a title of respect, now shortened to Mr.

Taken without that historic context it all looks a bit weird these days, as you've found!

A medical student passes their MB and is then referred to as "doctor".

If he or she continues as a physician (GP or hospital based), they will remain a doctor even if they become a consultant.

If, however, they go on to specialise in surgery, they adopt the ancient surgeon's title Mr (and now also Miss or Mrs).  

Incidentally, the word "mystery" for a craft or work-skill is still used in the case of "mystery plays" (some still performed, like the York Mystery plays). They were originally organised by various craftsmen's guilds.

Answer 8

it is only the ( consultant ) surgeons who are referred to as Mr as they were not considered to be proper doctors hundreds of years ago as most surgery was done by any one mostly barbers and tooth pullers

Answer 9

To be a doctor you have to have an M.D. or Ph.D.  degree

Answer 10

the registrars are also mr , my son in law became a mr after completing his house officer post.

Answer 11

This is going to sound awful because my dad is a Surgeon and my mother a GP, but I don't actually know!!

I THINK Members of the FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons)are called 'Mr'

I think MR just applied to consultant surgeon

I am talking about UK,

No to the girl below Laura.. All Consultant's are Drs (they have a medical degree) they then go on to consultancy level. But this is different in the US, where the title isn't used.

Answer 12

Because they are not doctors!