STATUS OF N.Z. DENTISTS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25923, 1 October 1949, Page 2

STATUS OF N.Z. DENTISTS

COURTESY TITLE OF “DOCTOR” POSTAL VOTE TO BE TAKEN All members of the New Zealand Dental Association will be asked to vote by post on a proposal that dentists should adopt the courtesy title of “doctor” in their surgeries, ana to carry the proposal a majority of at least 70 per cent, will be required. This was decided by the annual meeting of the association at Christchurch yesterday after a recommendation by the executive had been discarded. The recommendation, which the chairman of the executive (Mr H. Wilkinson) said was in line with the p licy of the association decided at the last annual meeting, was that dentists should use the courtesy title in their own surgeries if they sc desirea as a preliminary to the term gaining wider use by common usage. Mr J. K. Good said that dentists m the Hutt Valley had been told by the central executive that there was nothin" to prevent them calling themselves “doctor.” and they had adopted the title among themselves, in their surgeries, and when their nurses answered the telephones. There had been no adverse comment, and no ridicule, and the medical profession had made no objections. It was recognised that dentistry was a specialised branch of medicine, Mr Good said, but the general public did not realise this, and some regarded dentists as mere “tooth carpenters.” Certain overseas doctorates were only graduating degrees and not higher than the New Zealand qualification, but the average member of the public imagined they were higher. Strong opposition to the proposal was expressed by Mr G. Davies, of Dunedin, who said that the adopting of courtesy titles would not improve dentists’ status. “This suggested policy is not consistent.” he said. “It has been the policy of the association not to recognise foreign degrees. We know that thev are graduating degrees and of the same standard as the bachplcr’s degree in New Zealand.” He added that he had taken, an overseas degree, but still thought that the Now Zealand degree was nothing to he ashamed of. as it compered favourably with anything else in the world. It would bo wrong for the meeting to change the present policy. Mr Wilkinson said, as those members who were not present were entitled to nave a voice on such a matter. The Now Zealand Dental Council had not token any action on the matter, the chairman of the council said to a question. It was asked whether it would annrove of the use of the courtesv title and replied that it did not have power to approve or disapprove. It would not institute any action against a dentist using the courtesy title, as it did not institute actions. Mr H. D. Washbourn, of Timaru. said it appeared that the only mention of the use of the title “doctor” was in the Crimes Act. which stated these en'it’ed to the title. Dontists were not included, so would be breaking the law if they used the term. “T think our profession is lacking in ‘gumntion.’” said Mr A. Busse l !, who e?:n T ’oss2d concern about the status of working in institutions Womon dentists, he said, wore freoucntly referred to as “nurse,” and dentists working for the State wore often confused with the clerical staff simnly because they were known as “mister.” T n a suggestion that the matter should be referred to branches, Mr Good said there had been adequate discussion within branches, and only one or two branches had been opnesod to the proposal at the last annual meeting. He emphasised that the status of the profession was involved, and said that in the medical profession the title was a courtesy one. Corrmont bv Dean “What a chaotic state of affairs.” said the Doan of the Dental School iProfessor J. P. Walsh) after saying that a dentist would bo called doctor after graduating, would then strive tor ’ ieher Duplications and return to “mister.” and th n n. if ho went furProfessor Walsh suggested that a change in educational policy was weeded rather than a change of title, end representations should be made to the Senate of the University of New Zo°l n nd to achieve this. When an amendment was moved that the proposal should be referred to branohos. one member moved that discussion should be withheld from the Mr Wilkinson pointed out that the disrussinn to that point coifld not be withhe’d as the newspapers had been inv’ted to the meeting, but the president (Mr A. H. Weir) nut the motion, which was overwhelmingly defeated. A motion that the press should ba asked to submit their reports for scrutiny was not nut to the meeting. The amendment that a postal ballot bo taken was then put and carried, with sever°l cicronHnnLs.