Doctor

n.

1) the title given to a recipient of a higher university degree than a Master's degree (this is usually a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil) degree). The degree Medicinae Doctor (MD) is awarded by some British universities as a research degree to those with a first degree in medicine. In the US, the degree is awarded on qualification.

2) a courtesy title given to a qualified medical practitioner, i.e. one who has been registered by the General Medical Council (GMC). Most doctors in the UK obtain bachelors' degrees in medicine and surgery (MB, BS) or the diplomas of the conjoint boards of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of England and Scotland or the Society of Apothecaries (e.g. LRCP, MRCS, LMSSA): these degrees or diplomas and one year's hospital experience are required by the GMC before they will register a person as a doctor. Normally it is compulsory to have undertaken year 1 of the medical Foundation Programme (or two full-time preregistration appointments) in at least two specialties at hospitals recognized for this purpose. The doctor has the title F1 doctor, house officer (or physician or surgeon), resident, or intern and is debarred from independent practice. Surgeons in the UK do not use the title Doctor and are referred to, as a mark of distinction, as Mr, Mrs, or Ms. Qualified dentists also use the courtesy title Doctor.

See also: consultant