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Endorsed and Supported 'Dr' Title

Discussion in 'Australia' started by pdoan01, Nov 27, 2011.

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  1. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

  2. markjohconley

    markjohconley Well-Known Member

    Things are going to get very confusing! I have never and never will address anyone other than a holder of a Ph.D. or a 'doctor' a Dr, and 'doctor''s only because it has been in common usage for so long. How ridiculous!
     
  3. Admin2

    Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

  4. MicW

    MicW Active Member

    Agree Mark. I cringe at the whole idea. Allusions of grandeur. What a joke
     
  5. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    well my good sir it now could be a reality, as the profession progresses there are some consquences we as podiatrists might have to deal with
     
  6. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Hey Mark might be worth also extending that policy to not addressing anyone who isn't game enough to put their own name next to their posts!!

    ;)
     
  7. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    confused?
     
  8. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    Mark,

    I can't remember the last time I referred to anyone as Dr, even an MBBS, PhD.

    In my current role I provide strategic and local policy direction for all of our health services Out Patient clinics, so meet with all the Heads of Units fairly regularly, and not one have I called Dr, or has any of them actually expected it.
    And I try when ever possible to refer to Medical Doctors as "Interns, Registrars, Medical Practicioners, Surgeons, GPs, Consultants etc.

    PhDs? Well I am married to a professor, and know many others with a PhD, and would never use the title in normal conversation. It may only come up if I was introducing the person to someone else.
     
  9. markjohconley

    markjohconley Well-Known Member

    Goodaye Stephen, that's what I mean or addressing correspondence to, Mark
     
  10. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    HI

    Well i believe in not pushing the fact that just because you have the freedom to call yourself 'DR' you should not go around telling everyone you are one. I believe if you do call yourself 'Dr' it should be mainly for the purposes of advertisement ie. business cards, private practice to give it more of a professionalism look. And definately not for bragging rights
     
  11. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    So only for "bragging" to potential customers?
     
  12. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    That could be a way to see it. But my opinion is that now that the associations have supported this its up to you as the podiatrist to make the change for yourself, accepting it or rejecting it. Now until the Podiatry Board or the federal and state governments force us to do it (AMA might have something to say) then right now its down to choice.
     
  13. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member

    Doctors, Dentists and Podiatrists are the three medical professions in Australia that can perform surgery on the body.

    Doctors, Dentists and Podiatrists are the three medical professions that can independently prescribe a range of S4 drugs.

    Doctors and Dentists have the option to use the title "Dr". - So why should Podiatrists not have this option?

    Funnily enough, you will notice that EVERY chiropractor in NSW is listed on the Australian Chiropractic Board website as titled "DR".

    "Illusions of grandeur" is just ridiculous. -

    You won't find GP's, Dentists or Chiropractors complaining about the use of this title.

    Stop selling our profession short.
     
  14. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    Agreed.

    also you are forgetting that Doctors, Dentists and Podiatrists are the three providers of 'professional attention' as per HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973 - SECT 3

    and Doctors, Dentists and Podiatrists are the only three professions in Australia that can legally 'Specialise' and have specialisations
     
  15. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    The association endorsed the Pod Board Vic position, which is the legal position, ie the title Dr is not protected, and it was thought important that this position carried on to national registration.
    The AMA was lobbying to have the title Dr, along with the title surgeon, protected.

    Really anyone can call themselves what they want, and I support that, but you also want to be careful that other health professionals don't consider you a Wally.
    I had a tree cut down last year by Dr Stumpy, the tree surgeon, a Wally?
     
  16. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    Optometrists and Nurse practitioners can also independently prescribe and have PBS access, neither call themselves Dr. And only about 2% of podiatrists are endorsed. And out of that group, I don't know any non surgeon using the title Dr.

    Chiropractors have used the title as there course is supposedly based on the US course, but it has, I believe, affected their ability to move from alternative to a more mainstream profession.

    And only about 1% of podiatrists are endorsed
     
  17. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    Well why not protect the titles for the professions who use it including podiatry? After all we along with medicos and dentists are all professions that are the 'providers of professional attention', and can do surgery? Well the UWA are certainly taking a stance by removing their undergraduate Bachelor of Podiatric medicine and offering the Doctor of Podiatric medicine as the entry podaitry degree but requiring the gamsat, is that not a step in improving the quality of graduates in our profession?? Methinks that all unis in Australia will soon adapt to that training model
     
  18. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    Melbourne a university offers an entry to practice, Doctor of Physiotherapy, but the university council has stated that these graduates will not be granted the title Dr.

    And only Podiatric Surgeons can perform all but skin surgery, and provide profession attendance.

    Again, call yourself what you want, but understand why you are doing it.
     
  19. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    Well what is your opinion? Do you have those 2 letters before your name??

    The reasons I believe why many podiatrists are calling themselves doctor is more professional recognition, or maybe we are desperately trying to be like the US where podiatry training is very or should I say more advanced than Australia's?
     
  20. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    no I don't, as I believe my professional reputation speaks much louder thar 2 letters. I don't even highlight the fact that I am endorsed (and spent 20yrs on and off working towards the legislation change and introduction)
     
  21. musmed

    musmed Active Member

    Dear All

    Got a Dr. title from Uni.
    All it does is put up your indemnity insurance!

    Chiro's can call themselves doctors but must put chiropractor in brackets after the title according APHRA's rules.
    Drs of medicine do not.
    Regards

    Paul Conneely
    www.musmed.com.au
     
  22. Tkemp

    Tkemp Active Member

    The submission states:
    "In Victoria, there is no law that restricts a Podiatrist from utilising the Honourary titile of Doctor providing they do not mislead the public to indicate they are a registered medical practitioner"

    So what is important here is the public's interpretation of the titile "Dr" and the accompanying responsibilities and expectations.
    Many understand "Dr" to mean a peer of their GP with equivalent training, which UK and Aus Podiatrists - on the whole - do not have.
    Therefore, any Podiatrist wishing to use this title will have to ensure this is clearly stated and not misinterpreted.

    So would you call yourself:
    Dr Foot (podiatrist only not MD)
    Dr Foot (BSc Pod - neither PhD or MD)
    Dr Foot (wanna be MD)
    Dr Foot (Pod - have huge mortgage and 3 kids in private schools)
    ??
    ;)
     
  23. MicW

    MicW Active Member

    I must ask the question - WHY ??

    How will we or our patients benefit from this?

    Will it change what we do, will it avail more funding?

    What is the motivation?
     
  24. pdoan01

    pdoan01 Active Member

    Ok firstly lets make it clear I do not discourage the use of this title nor do i promote or encourage it, my feelings are neutral.

    Now the way I see it is it could benefit you professionally. Patients, other health professionals and the like could see you in a different light albeit more poistively or nagatively. Some podiatrists use the title because they can, others because they think it might give them more professional recognition. In regards to 'funding', well if the profession as a whole does well then might give the Gillard administration something to think about.
     
  25. DMax

    DMax Member

    What about Osteos? They also use the title dr. ?!

    The other day when I had to call my wifes clinic to reach her for some emergency. I had to tell the receptionist on the phone to get dr.xxx for me Man, did that made me feel uncomfortable :p
     
  26. tracyd123

    tracyd123 Member

    All I can say on the matter is be careful when using the title. Legally you need to make sure you have not mislead your patient to think that you are something that you are not. If they believe that their podiatrist is a doctor and believes they are more qualified than other podiatrists because of the title on their business card and have not been directed otherwise be careful if things go pear shaped.

    We are in a litigious society, harm minimisation is the best approach.

    Feel free to write what you will but be wary of the consequences.

    Tracy
     
  27. amcheli

    amcheli Member

    Ouch, that was spot on! the nail went right through!
     
  28. Walking1

    Walking1 Member

    To all
    This form of discussion went on with the Dentists and the Vets for some considerable time and I don't know if it was ever fully resolved by either professions. Some seemed to have adopted the Dr symbol and some not but I guess the new grads will adopt it and eventually it will be the norm
     
  29. Yiannis

    Yiannis Welcome New Poster

    I would like to add the term Podiatrist originates from the Greek word of Foot Doctor.
    Podi- Foot Iatros- Doctor just like Othonto- tooth Iatros - Doctor so if Dentists are comfortably using it why should not podiatrists use it??
    Ahpra guidelines clearly allow its use. If the profession wants to stunt podiatry and opt not to use the title perhaps we should rewind the term from Podiatrist back to Chiropodist so everyone is happy not to use the title, and by the way that is Greek too for Chiro- hand and Podi Foot like a foot and hand care practitioner.
     
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