This refers to the write-up of Dr. Mushtaq Chalkoo, ‘Demeaning doctors, misleading patients’ (Greater Kashmir June 19, 2010). We can’t comment as to whether a simple medical graduate, allopathic or non-allopathic, is entitled to prefix the word ‘doctor’ to his name or not. What is, nevertheless, evident is that the author of the write-up is miserably ignorant. Or else, he could have at least guessed from some of the degrees he has made a mention of and not so sweepingly challenged all such degree holders for using the initial ‘doctor’ with their name. Let it be known to the learned writer that the research degrees like Ph.D (Philosophiae Doctor or Doctor of Philosophy) and D.Litt (Doctor Litterarum or Doctor of Letters), which inherently contain the word ‘doctor’, are doctoral and post-doctoral degrees respectively and sequentially equal to or higher than what the degree of D.M in the field of medical education and research stands for.
 In case those with Ph.D and D.Litt degrees, as contended by Dr. Chalkoo, are neither ethically nor legally entitled to prefix the insignia ‘doctor’ to their name, let the plaintiff approach to the honourable court of law and try out on legal standing by making of the like of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Karan Singh, Dr. A Wahid Qureshi and Dr. Riyaz Punjabi as defendants. By the way, the extensive use of the prefix ‘doctor’ is, as believed by Dr. Chalkoo, certainly not the main reason for the loss of glamour and sheen the medical profession used to enjoy a few decades ago. Paradigm shift in the mission and priority of most of the contemporary medical practitioners from the ethical to that of materialistic probably is!
Dr. Nazir A Gilkar
Dr. Farooq A Shah
Dr. M Ashraf Malla

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST