Is the doctor an ordinary person?

The Iraqi-German colleague with the striking name “Malahim Al-Malaika” (Inspiring Angels) wrote an article in Al-Hadath Al-Mutamad, titled closely to the one above, in which he noted, paraphrasing: In the rush of life, many forget that the doctor from whom they seek healing is not one of the human herd that constitutes the majority, but rather one of the rare shepherds. What Malahim stated is correct, and I had previously addressed this topic a few days ago in an article in which I pointed out that those distinguished in medicine devote themselves almost entirely to their studies, abandoning worldly concerns for several years to complete their humanitarian mission, paying a heavy price. Malahim continues: I classify doctors, in certain respects, among the ranks of the wise. Some may object, but I simply refer them to the Arab classification of the doctor as a “wise man,” a classification inherited throughout the history of civilizations. His wisdom stems from the fact that he is the only one who, in his studies, combines the science of bodies, souls, and ethics. Thus, the treatment of bodies cannot be effective without understanding the human psyche and its nature. In the early stages of human civilization, doctors studied philosophy, logic, and astronomy alongside medicine. Modern states usually bestow the title “Doctor” on human physicians. Generally, Westerners are reluctant to use the title “Doctor” or refer to themselves as such, or to include it in correspondence with others, unless the context involves academic or formal letters, if they hold a PhD in philosophy outside the medical field. Thus, Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Condoleezza Rice, Noam Chomsky, and millions of others hold doctoral degrees, yet no one addresses them by that title. What we see here is the exact opposite. Therefore, I am very hesitant to address anyone as “Doctor,” especially non-physicians, due to their sheer numbers and the superficiality of thought among the majority. How, for example, can a law graduate be a PhD in theology, when religion does not recognize philosophy at all, as it is complete in itself? What need does he have for a doctoral student to complete it? Hence, I have adopted a single standard in dealing with everyone, and any academic who is confident in himself and his knowledge will surely understand my viewpoint. Historically, the title “Doctor” was confined to those who reached the highest levels of academic achievement at universities, but over time it became associated with medicine for several reasons, including the professional identity acquired through academic training. In many countries, such as the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia, medical schools award a professional doctoral degree for clinical practice, such as MD or MBBS. Although these are applied rather than research degrees, they grant the holder the legal and professional right to use the title. This also provides clarity for patients and distinguishes status within the medical community, enabling patients to immediately identify the person responsible for their medical care in hospitals. Britain, as usual in its uniqueness, may not follow this practice. Once a doctor becomes a surgeon, a higher rank, he must relinquish the title and be addressed as “Mr.” This is a historical tradition dating back to the days when surgeons belonged to barbers’ (and bloodletters’) guilds rather than university physicians. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where strict laws prevail, a medical school graduate is called a doctor, but he is not legally permitted to use the title “Dr.” unless he writes a doctoral dissertation and obtains the degree of Dr. med. * * * Some may see exaggeration in what my colleague “Malahim” wrote, but nothing better illustrates the truth of his words than the anxiety and panic that usually seize us when we suffer from a health symptom or need to undergo surgery. At that moment, all specializations and titles diminish, and the “doctor” becomes the savior, the inspirer, and the angel, coming to us in human form, capable of alleviating our pain and perhaps restoring hope and spirit to us. Ahmed Al-Sarraf