Lot of hype these days that Physiotherapist using Dr as
prefix is wrong let’s have a deeper look on the Question’
The question is that, is it right for a physiotherapist to
prefix doctor before their name?
Well Ideally Answer to this is No .It’s not right for a
physiotherapist to prefix Dr in front of their name because they are not
Philosopher of the field. Means they are not PhD. Only a PhD can prefix Dr to
their name.
Now if the above statement is right the Next question comes in
mind is that, is it right for MBBS holder to prefix Dr... And the Answer is
still NO because they are also not PhD.
The Ph.D. is originally a degree granted by a university to
learned individuals who had achieved the approval of their peers and who had
demonstrated a long and productive career in the field of philosophy (in the
broad sense of the term philosophy, the pursuit of knowledge).
The word doctor originate from Latin means teacher. The
appellation of "Doctor" (from Latin: teacher) was usually awarded
only when the individual was in middle age. It indicated a life dedicated to
learning, to knowledge, and to the spread of knowledge.
So according to this who are doctor? One who have doctorate
degree, offered by university in respective field, or as matter of convention
who has devoted their most of life in the field to attain the knowledge in the
respective field?
Did you know historically, lawyers in most European
countries were addressed with the title of doctor?
Now coming to the Punch line "Registered medical
practitioners" hold the degree of Bachelor of Medicine (usually also with
surgery). Though they are holders of bachelor-level degrees, history has allowed
the use of the title doctor by physicians, however, it is recognised that it is
in essence an honorary or courtesy title.
Cultural conventions
exist, You must also be knowing
clinicians who are or Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons ,As a homage to
their predecessors, the barber surgeons, they prefer to be addressed as Mr,
Mrs, Ms or Miss, even if they do hold a medical degree. When a medical doctor
passes the examinations which enable them to become a fellow of one or more of
the Royal Surgical Colleges it is customary for them to drop the
"Doctor" prefix and take up "Miss", "Mister", or
and so on.
As of 1995, dentists have also been given the right to use
the courtesy title "Dr" in the United Kingdom, although current
advice from the General Dental Council is that the term should be limited to
dentists holding a PhD or additional medical degree. Where dentists do use the
title and are not also registered medical practitioners, they must ensure that
it is not used in a way which could mislead the public.
So it is clear from the above lines that the Prefix Dr used
by registered medical professionals holding a bachelor degree is a matter of
cultural convention and granted by history as an honorary.
Now coming back to physiotherapist, if the major community
of Physiotherapist in India want to prefix Dr in to their names, it should be
allowed as a matter of convention same as manner the dentist are using.
Recently IAP has released a press note that the Physiotherapist who wants Dr as
prefix should Use Pt as suffix to make sure they are Physiotherapist not the
RMP and they don't prescribe medication.
Prescribing right is a matter of government of India and
only registered medical professionals can prescribe Drugs. Physiotherapist in
UK has provision to do prescription with experience and certain qualification,
but in India any physiotherapist or other Professionals who is not RMP and prescribing
medications is a Quack. But using Dr as a Prefix is not a quack.
Why a Physiotherapist community willing to use Dr as prefix
to their name? The answer to this is that India is such a vast country where
majority of the population thinks who treats patient is a doctor, doesn’t matter they are educated or illiterate. They
don’t Recognised Physiotherapist as independent healthcare professionals so
they lack trusting Physiotherapist as Independent Practises. In last 15- 20
years physiotherapy has evolved from Diploma to Doctorate level. They are no
more subordinate to medical Doctors, share the equal status. To gain the
similar trust from population, (that they are capable of treating
independently) they need to prefix Dr as a convention that all other health
care professional’s uses.
