Why are Surgeons called Mister/Mrs/Miss in the UK?

[@shafiqrajab6080]

I think there's an element of reverse snobbery related to this tradition - doctors at that time were gentry who prescribed in Latin. They felt their medical knowledge of diagnostic medicine made them superior to these "working class barber surgeons". So when surgery advanced in importance and prestige, at first the surgeons couldn't have the right to be called Dr, now they no longer wanted to. Just something I read on BMJ :)

[@melissavaughnvoiceoverarti6436]

Excellent explanation, thank you!

[@albertchan3238]

Sorry I did not finished the whole video, but the white is the lymph the red is artery and blue is vein, from Glasgow

[@Reizermo]

Really interesting. I saw a consultant today, and it was so strange to not be able to use that very convenient label of "Doctor". So got curious about the origins of this. Thanks. Question.....if they become really well qualified do they leap back into academic titles, such as Professor?

[@OllieBurtonMed]

Great question - usually yes, a senior surgeon will be called Professor or 'Prof'. Even to the point where because usually there's only 1 per department, everyone would refer to them as just 'Prof' rather than their name, or 'Prof Surname' if multiple. Even when surgeons get PhDs in the UK (which typically comes after they would pass their College exams and become a Mr/Ms/Mx etc) they are still usually referred to as Mr/Ms/Mx rather than 'Dr', even though they have a doctorate. Surgery is a very particular culture and very hierarchy/respect heavy. So any of my bosses (consultants) I would call 'Mr/Ms X' unless they've specifically told me to call them something else.

[@loretta_3843]

Nicely explained 😉 hope you're doing well!☺️

[@shambhavivats6435]

even i wanted wanted to know that thank god you told me the reason..how r u?

[@EdgyShooter]

Indeed, medical professionals who gain an MB BS gain the title Doctor as an honorific, but there is actually a an MD qualification in the UK, it's just a postgraduate qualification that has to be taken after medical school

[@OllieBurtonMed]

Indeed! Covered this in a more recent video

[@ggingib]

The fact that surgeons are not addressed as Doctor, due a historic anomaly, which has been rectified almost a 150 years ago, making surgeons i.e.

[@davidhirsch3163]

Question - A surgeon has the same title as an average person. Mr Smith V.S. Mr Surgeon? Does not seem very respectful of a title.

[@OllieBurtonMed]

I think the thing to remember is that in medical circles it is seen as very respectful to say Mr/Mrs etc due to the historical context of the title - even though it often seems quite strange to the public

[@EdgyShooter]

Also it's a bit different as you'll refer to them always with the Mr etc title, whereas normally you would just call someone by their first name

[@ryant9876]

I work in surgery and I found it quite odd to be calling surgeons mr, mrs etc. I think it feels more odd where almost all of Anaesthesists are referred to as Dr. yet they are technically the second in command in the operating theatre.

[@OllieBurtonMed]

It is a little jarring right! But quite rapidly you're taught not to make that mistake as a medical student, it can come across as disrespectful sometimes if you don't call them Mrs/Mr etc

[@amardave84]

Second in command only until the patient starts crashing, after which they run the show as they have the critical care medicine chops.

[@fallon.j.3673]

@@amardave84 If a patient crashes like the heart stops working the anaesthesiologist tells then the surgeon will perform the resuscitation.

[@mothermovementa]

Because back in the day surgeons were even barbers e.g

[@lionkai22]

Ollie a sexists... NEVER!