Why do Consultants become "Mr" again instead of "Dr"?

Question

If its about status why dont they come up with new title, Im a Mr and a Dr is better than me.

Answer 1

In the health service, the term 'Dr' is more of a job title that an honorific. Academically, you are a Doctor if you hold a Doctorate, a PhD, a DLit or similar. Although there are indeed degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Surgery etc, many 'Doctors' have only got Bachelor of Surgery degrees.

A consultant Surgeon is called Mr to distinguish him or her from the jobbing Doctors who are probably less qualified. It is a hang over, a sort of inverted snobbery, from the days when barber-surgeons had their own guild, separate from the more academic doctors of medicine.

And by the way, someone may be more qualified, but it does not make them 'better' than you! I have more letters after my name than there are in my name, but that just makes me an over-educated geek, not superior!

Answer 2

It actually usually refers to surgeons. Other consultants called 'Mr' tend to be involved in the surgical field as well.

Of course technically they're doctors too, but in the olden days, you had the guild of physicians and the guild of barber surgeons. Surgeons (unlike today) were not medically trained, therefore they could not be called Dr and belong to the guild of physicians.

These days it's just a way to distinguish surgeons from other doctors, and is generally only used in the UK. Surgeons tend to see it as a mark of respect-being a surgeon actually requires more training than other fields of medicine.

And don't be silly, they're not just referred to as 'mister'. They're referred to by their full titles (i.e. Mr Brown, Mr Harper, Mr Wallace).

Answer 3

This (as someone else has commented) only applies to surgeons. It dates back to the time of barber surgeons, thus Consultant Surgeons use "Mr" to differentiate themselves from doctors, as barbers would not have had a medical qualification [of course they have to have one now!]

Interestingly, this is also where the red and white striped pole of the hairdresser comes from. It signifies blood and white bandages - the barber would have doubled up as a surgeon.

Answer 4

I dunno but it's funny you ask that, I was wondering why I was going to see Mr Sofat rather than Dr Sofat at the Neruosurgery clinic today!

Answer 5

I have often wondered the same thing, I don't see why you would work your backside off to get the title of Doctor (blatantly cool), then spend most of your life working your backside off even harder, to be reduced to a mr again!

They need to invent something new, something cooler than doctor and mr.

Answer 6

It's not because they don't have no learnin'.  I'm sure it's because many don't have a PHD.  

Often times that’s just dandy.

Need brain surgery?

That's different.

You really don't want to hear people call the guy with the scalpel Boss or Mister.  

Answer 7

I found a link which might help as I was curious myself,interesting question.

http://www.sgu.edu/NewsEvents.nsf/webCon...

Answer 8

That generally only applies to surgeons who become consultant. Its about having more status!  

Answer 9

It's to distinguish them from being a "common or garden" Doctor - they are 'far' superior!