The only people who get offended, in my experience, are Professors of Medicine in Europe and Asia (specifically not in the US). They are offended when you call them "Doctor" instead of "Professor."

And, yes, there is the strange case of the UK. There, surgeons who become members of the Royal College of Surgeons revert to being called "Mister." They may be offended if they are called "Doctor."

People with PhD's may prefer one or the other, but I've never seen one offended unless they correct you once and then you persist in using the wrong form.

[QUOTE=slawecki]Medical Doctors seem to expect special treatment and most always run around calling themselves "doctor....." Persons with Ph. D's and Sc. D's do not in general tend to do that, and do not expect special treatment, even though their requirements to a much higher standard.

I beg to differ. I don't expect any special treatment just because i am an MD but I see nothing wrong with using the title that you have legitimately worked hard to obtain just the same as a PhD has the right to use the term as well. I am not sure what you mean by "requirements to a much higher standard" but if you are referring to the years of study etc an MD who specializes probably does more years of training if you include residency than a PhD As to the OP. no , there is no special treatment for MD's, nor should there be. There have been many threads concerning inflight emergencies and what the comp. , if any, should be for medical personnel. That is another matter all together.

This reminds me of one of my axioms about the reality of life:

At a given level of expertise, the more good you do, the less you get paid. The exception to this rule is people with PhDs.

I was being sarcastic about the investment banker comment, and I shouldn't have worded it as "flashing" the MD badge like some sort of an FBI agent, cause I didn't mean that literally. I just meant disclosing that you are a physician. Anyway, I am very new to the whole posting in forum things, so I forget that I have to be careful on how I word things from now on. I should probably go back to being a lurker

Oh, and for the record, I never "flashed" my md badge ever and I rarely disclose my profession to anyone in public. I usually just say I work in a lab if someone asks. But I posted this question in the first place because I thought maybe the one time I would ever do it is to get a airline perk, because a lot of people in other professions seem to get perks like that with their line of work and extensive travelling. I guess it was a little selfish of me to want to have a little special treatment too now and then.

Don't worry if you post often enough you'll manage to offend someone, even when you had no intentions of doing so. Just think of it as having an added bonus thrown in. You didn't even have to do any work to get someone riled up.

Oh, come now - let's not get so defensive.
Perhaps I was a bit harsh.
There is no "record" here, we're not in the hospital, so relax.
Listen to advice (or read it). Listen to experience.
Seeing one's patients get better is a "major perk" that comes with the job.
The whole world doesn't need to know that you are a doctor - you'll
(hopefully?) make a difference in a lot of lives over the years.
You don't need to build your self esteem by announcing it.
Buy your C/F ticket, or use miles, or become a frequent flyer; earn it.
Again, good luck.

By the way.........
Based on your original post, I find it very difficult to believe that you tell people you work in a lab if they ask. I'm quite sure you tell them you're a doctor. In fact, I would bet on it!

Hardly "riled".
It would take a bit more than that!
I'm sure you enjoy offending people on a regular basis.
How proud your parents must be.

Ah, I see. My father slaved his way through medical school, residency and internship, but it at least he was spared from having to meet the more rigorous standards of earning a Ph.D. in say, political science.

Maybe if you offered free prostate exams to annoying air travelers...I'm certain the FA's would point them out to you.

Seriously, and I'm sure the FAs would be happy to help with the hemoccult..... ^

In Eyes Wide Shut, Tom Cruise's character tried to use his MD license to get special considerations. Didn't work for him, and I expect it will not for you.

"Most likely ensue?"

Don't you think it's a bit of an overstatement to suggest that the majority of times doctors treat patients lawsuits result?

Yes, that contention would definitely be an exaggeration. However, when you're wearing a big bullsye on your back, it's often smart to stay in the camouflage.

What I got from that post was what the perception of the US system is in Europe. Those crazy americans! If something bad happens, it's got to be someone else's fault, and that person (or business) should be made to pay for it. The all-American reflex!

you should bet on it, so i can use the money i win from you for an upgrade.

Just for the record, although getting an MD and going through residency is demanding, getting a Ph.D. can be equally, and in some cases, more demanding. (How demanding your residency is depends on where you end up. Some people don't put in more than 50 hours/week, whereas others are doing 70+).