The way forward

We can learn a lesson from history here. The situation in 1995 was that a large number of dentists were openly using the title 'Dr.' in defiance of the GDC's guidelines and indeed many had written to the GDC stating that they were using the title 'Doctor' in their practices. The Council realised that if they did not vote to remove the prohibition, it would have to take legal action against the dentists who were in breach of its guidelines, which would be both impractical and financially prohibitive.

The situation now is somewhat different in that a very large proportion of dentists are now legally using the title. I have spoken with a large number of younger dentists who have been using the title since qualifying and the general consensus of opinion seems to be that they have no intention of ceasing to use the title, whatever the Council might decide.

We need to make it abundantly clear to the GDC that if they do vote to implement a ban, dentists will ignore it and continue in their use of the title 'Doctor'. The Council would then find themselves in the embarassing position of being practically and financially unable to act against those dentists openly flouting it's guidelines.

Oh No! I've just remembered........

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Where we are now

In order to allow sufficient time for the full impact analysis of the proposals to be undertaken, The GDC has decided that the issue will now be considered by the Council at its meeting on 22nd. September.

Consequently we still have time to express our feelings on this matter to the Council and if we are complacent and do nothing we may wake up on 23rd. September to find we have lost our right to use of the title 'Doctor'.

There are two important issues for the Council to consider when deciding on how to vote on this matter. One being the impact a decision to implement a ban would have on the status of the profession, as dentists try to explain to their patients why they should no longer be called 'Doctor'. The second, the impact on the credibility of the Council if they implement a ban which they may find themselves unable to enforce.

The genie is out of the bottle

It is amazing that, after all these years, the GDC is still smarting from being persuaded to amend their guidance to allow dentists to use the courtesy title 'Doctor' back in 1995.

The Council's position then was that use of the title 'Doctor' would confuse patients and it appears to be unchanged. Rather than confuse patients, I would maintain that use of the title 'Dr.' helps patients understand the dentist's role as leader of a team of Dental Care Professionals. With around 50% of dentists graduating being women, their use of the title 'Dr.' helps patients distinguish them from the hygienists, therapists and dental nurses who are also involved in their dental care. It also helps patients understand the depth of knowledge and understanding that a dentist has acquired during their years of training.

A whole generation of dentists will have been using the title 'Dr.' since they qualified and will be somewhat bemused by the fact that the GDC is still of the view that they should revert to being 'Miss', 'Ms', or 'Mr' so as not to confuse their patients!

I think it highly unlikely that dentists using the title 'Dr.' will cease to do so no matter what the GDC might decide at the completion of its consultation. Once the genie is out of the bottle it is difficult to persuade it to return!

History of the issue

The decision by the GDC in November 1995 to allow dentists to use the courtesy title 'Doctor' was the culmination of a well organised campaign run by Dr. Douglas Pike, himself a member of the GDC at the time. Dentists who wished to do so were encouraged to use the title 'Dr.' in relation to their practices and increasing numbers were doing so - even though at that time the GDC regarded the use of the courtesy title 'Doctor' by dentists a matter of serious professional misconduct.

When the issue was debated by the GDC in May 1995 it was defeated by the narrowest of margings. The GDC was fully aware of the rising open useage of the title 'Doctor' within the profession and had to either remove the prohibition or act against those dentists flouting its guidelines.

The matter was once again debated by the GDC in November 1995, by which time a large number - I believe it was in the region of 3000 dentists had written to the GDC stating that they were using the title 'Doctor' in their practices. Indeed this was pointed out by the then President of the Council Margaret Seward before the vote, when she said that if the Council did not vote to remove the prohibition it would be placed in the embarassing position of being out of step with a groundswell of opinion within the profession and that it would be practically and financially impossible to act against dentists openly using the title.

The notification sent to all dentists by the then Registrar of the GDC following the vote removing the ban on use of the title 'Doctor'

The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness amongst dentists in the UK that they are currently under threat of losing their right to use of the title 'Doctor'.

I am not really sure why this has re-emerged at this time - but it appears that, in considering revised guidelines on ethical advertising, the General Dental Council (GDC) were aware of two complaints that use of the courtesy title 'Doctor' was somehow confusing to patients in the UK. As a result the GDC gave its Standards Committee the task of investigating this, which resulted in a recommendation that the Council vote to implement a ban on dentists using the title.

The GDC debated the use of the courtesy title 'Doctor' by dentists at its meeting on 24th. February 2011 in the context of revised guidelines on ethical advertising. The GDC decided at that time not to vote on the issue but to ask for an impact assessment to take place and be presented to a future meeting. Originally it was thought that it would be considered and voted on during the meeting on 20th. May - but it appears that, in order to allow sufficient time for the impact analysis to be undertaken and presented, this has been postponed until the meeting on 22nd. September when the Council will once again consider the matter.
Consequently there is still time to influence the Council's decision and I would urge colleagues who wish to retain their right to legally continue using the title 'Doctor' to write or e-mail the GDC to show the strength of feeling amongst the profession.

Over the next months I will be adding to and expanding this blog so please feel free to post any comments.