DOCTOR?

Recently, I was asked by a friend to comment upon a medication that her mother was being given for arthritis. She felt much better with the medication, but her "doctor" told her that she didn't want to give it to her because it may damage her kidneys. "Certainly, that's a possibility," I answered, "but there are many other medications and methods of treatment available." I then asked whether she was seeing a Rheumatologist. "She's only seeing Dr. X," was the reply. She then followed it by reading from a recent communication, "Dr. X, CRNP."

I agree, as I have in other publications, that anyone who earns a doctorate is entitled to use the term, "doctor." On the other hand, healt care is a different kind of field, and the use implies a particular kind and degree of training - either an MD or a DO and further specialty training. In a patient contact situation, anyone else who uses the honoritic, "doctor," must be absolutely clear who they are and, since that is not always possible, it's use must be avoided wherever it could be misleading.

The legal implications of misrepresentation, intentional or otherwise in health care are potentially staggering. If you are a patient, make sure that the "doctor" who is treating you is really the physician you think they are. If you have a doctorate in anything but Medicine or its functional equivalent and do not make your status clear, the next notice you receive could be from a court.

For questions about how to proceed, contact a knowlegeable health care attorney and don't get caught in the middle of a problem of your own making.