A new Georgia law has renewed debate over the legal use of the title as more people earn doctorates in healthcare fields and challenge the notion that only MDs should call themselves doctor. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, remembers the day well. She was at a meeting of administrators at the hospital where she worked and the physicians there were addressing each other by first name. Mensik Kennedy assumed everyone would be on a first name basis. But when she followed suit, the informal tone of the meeting quickly changed. “I was corrected,” she recalled. “They said, ‘No, no, no, this is Dr. Smith.’”
Three California nurse practitioners with doctorates allege a state law prohibiting their use of the title "Dr" violates their free speech rights. They’re now suing state officials for enforcing the law.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law on May 2, 2023, the Health Care Practitioners Truth and Transparency Act (Senate Bill 197), which aims to promote truth and transparency in health care credentials, highlighting the need to address the problematic term "provider" and the importance of language in shaping thoughts and perceptions within the health care industry.
Carmen Kavali, MD | KevinMD.com kevinmd.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kevinmd.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Georgia legislature: SB 26 teleconference access for public meetings passed, SB 45 care of students with epilepsy passed, SB 60 illegal to sell secondary recycled metals passed, SB 65 Commissioner of Insurance advisory committee establishment passed.