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Kerala HC: 'Doctor' Title Not Just for MBBS Grads
25 Jan
Summary
- Kerala High Court dismissed pleas from medical professionals.
- The court stated 'doctor' originally meant a learned person.
- NMC Act does not grant exclusive 'Dr.' title to MBBS graduates.
The Kerala High Court has dismissed challenges from medical professionals regarding the use of the prefix 'Dr.' by physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Justice V G Arun stated that the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act does not provide exclusive rights to MBBS graduates for using this title.
The court elaborated that the term 'doctor' historically signified a learned individual qualified to teach, and its application broadened with medical science to include university-trained physicians. It further noted that individuals holding higher academic qualifications, such as a PhD, are still entitled to use the title 'doctor'.
Further, the court found no statutory provision in the NMC Act or the Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act that grants medical professionals exclusive rights to the 'Dr.' prefix. It also declined to limit the scope of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP) Act, 2021, which governs allied health professionals.
