Why don't consultants get called 'Doctor'?

Question

If consultant is a higher position in a hospital, why are they called 'Mrs' or 'Mr' instead of 'Doctor'? It doesn't make sense, if anything it should be the other way round-you're a 'Mrs' until you become a consultant.

Answer 1

As far as I know, consultants are still known as Doctor, or at least use the Dr. title. In the UK however, surgeons who have been awarded a MRCS (Master of the Royal College of Surgeons) diploma or a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS), are known as Mr./Mrs. and not Doctor/Dr. This dates back to medieval times when surgeons were not awarded a university doctoral degree, but were in fact barbers who specialized in surgery.

Formal recognition of their skills (in England at least) goes back to 1540, when the Fellowship of Surgeons (who existed as a distinct profession, but still not "Doctors/Physicians" as we think of them today) merged with the Company of Barbers to form the Company of Barber-Surgeons. Even though all surgeons now have to gain a basic medical degree and doctorate (as well as undergoing several more years training in surgery), they still retain their link with the past by using the Mr. form of address instead of Dr.

Unless there is a similar history with senior level consultants, I do not see any reason why they would want to be addressed as Mr. or Mrs. except as a matter of personal preference. As the user above pointed out, the only exception should exist with surgical consultants, not those specializing in other fields.

Answer 2

IF the consultant went to medical school and obtained his MD, then you are right, he should be called doctor.

Answer 3

most consultants are still called doctor. The ones called Mr are surgical consultants. surgeons many years ago did not go through formal medical training so therefore were not academically doctors. Nowadays it is their honour to become a Mr again as it shows their rank.