WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
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WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
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Recently I had to write a referral to a gynecologist, who turned to be a male doctor. I addressed my letter to his as to "Dr...". The reaction was his rage and complaints, that I did not use his&
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Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
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WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
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WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 9:44 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 164
First: 31/5/2012 Last: 8/10/2012 |
Recently I had to write a referral to a gynecologist, who turned to be a male doctor. I addressed my letter to his as to "Dr...". The reaction was his rage and complaints, that I did not use his actual "title" which he claims to be Mister (?!). I asked my wife, who is English - what was wrong and, she shook her shoulders. Does anyone here know and can explain to me why surgeons in this country are ashamed to be called Doctors? And - where is the logic - if sociaty calls a male surgeon "mister", why should not the female surgeons be called "missis"? |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 1:02 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1178
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
When a surgeon passes their FRCS (This might be MRCS now...) they are referred to as Mr, or Miss. This is a throwback to when surgeons were barbers, not physicians. It delineates who is a surgeon, and who is a physician. Not that I think it makes any difference, really. But female surgeons are called Miss.
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 1:12 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1784
First: 7/3/2009 Last: 18/5/2013 |
Isn't it time to reconsider? We are doctors and colleagues. Mister and Miss are general terms, and it is only surgeons that think of it as something "special" for them. Once upon a time when surgeons and barbers were considered as colleagues it would be appropriate.It is just like the metric system. It takes time, but finally we will get there. Dr. is a respectable term and it is also time that globally all medical doctors awarded the MD title(Doctor of Medicine).
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 1:22 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2947
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 29/4/2013 |
In Queensland, Australia, we do not observe this bull. You get the title Dr regardless unless you are professor etc. A senior surgeon has the same title as a RMO. Some southern states still for the British bull. I have a PhD so I am real doctor but no one really cares anyway. It is all bull. A lot of patients address me by my first name; such is Australia.
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 1:27 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1444
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 21/5/2013 |
One of our junior doctors who came to work with us at the BMJ (and is interested in being a surgeon) wrote a similar post on this. A ‘Mister /Miss’ by the end of Foundation year 1 – Are doing postgraduate surgical examinations early a good idea? |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 2:54 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 9
First: 5/6/2012 Last: 13/6/2012 |
In Response to Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES: [QUOTE]When a surgeon passes their FRCS (This might be MRCS now...) they are referred to as Mr, or Miss. This is ridiculous! Who invented it? When? I agree with drmk, I want to know too the roots for this |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 3:21 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 9
First: 22/5/2012 Last: 11/7/2012 |
Guys - the "Mr/Miss" is there to alert juniors not to ask said Dr about ECGs/blood results/anything outside cutting and removing objects from people's bodies, as they will be met with confusion! I kid, I kid! Seriously though, I don't mind the system, even though it seems a little pointless. |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 3:40 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
All the postgraduate medical personnel should have a respectful title. Here, in India surgeons & physicians are both titled as Drs. & afterall surgeons are not barbers! In fact surgeons deserve a more respectful title. |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 5:12 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 224
First: 15/5/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
In the US, patients call their physicians and surgeons as Dr. I encourgage my team in the hospital to call me by my first name. |
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Re: WHY SURGEONS ARE CALLED "MISTER-S" IF THEY ARE MALES, BUT - NOTHING IF THEY ARE FEMALES
posted at 13/6/2012 5:57 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2047
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
In a busy theatre, or some critical care situation, anyone calling "John" is likely to get two or three heads up. So, call me fuddy duddy, old school, whingeing Pom, I'm "Dr.D" at work. But drmk, and everyone else, you don't appreciate the delightful historical reaosn why surgeons are 'Mr.' . I refer you to the History page of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, at: http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about/history In 1540, the Fellowship of Surgeons united with the Company of Barbers, to form the Barber-Surgeons Company, under the patronage of no less than Henry VIII. Although the Surgeons later broke away, their college still displays the Holbein portrait of the Monarch presenting them with their charter.  You can see the original this summer if you wish: http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/events/all-the-kings-men-henry-viii-and-the-barber-surgeons They weren't physicians or 'doctors', they were surgeons and barbers, who shared a trade in the only real 'treatment' they had, bleeding, to remove noxious humours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humours That's the origin of the barber's pole, spiral red and white stripes, to represent a tight bandage around an arm to promote blood loss. John PS All the female surgeons in my hospital ( and there are many) are Miss, Ms. or Mrs. J. |
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