Reply #45: Nurses deserve more respect than they often get. But in a hospital setting, only MD's are "doctor."

[DirkGently]

For practical purposes, "Dr." PhD and "Doctor" meaning M.D. are different words. No one in a hospital should be introducing themselves as "Dr." to a patient if they're not an M.D.

My take on honorifics associated with advanced degrees is that they make sense in the context in which they apply. M.D.'s are "Doctor" in the hospital and in their other work as physicians. Practicing medicine. Writing papers. Giving presentations. Teaching class. PhDs are likewise "doctor" in their professional communications.

I never thought it made sense for anyone to introduce themselves socially with their degree-associated honorific. It's a degree. It's lovely, but it doesn't mean you've been promoted to some permanent higher social status. It's not a social title. We don't have those here. No one else does that, because it makes no sense. "Hi. I'm Associate of Arts Johnson." "B.S. Cavendish here, nice to meet you." Bit silly.

I remember a friend's father, while we were in 7th or 8th grade, introducing himself to me as "Dr." so-and-so. He was an engineer. He was an ass in general, and I will forever associate his overall inflated sense of self-importance with his referring to his PhD in introducing himself to a 13 year old.