FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.
   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.

Do I Use my Post-Nominals on My Checks?
How should my name appear on my checks "Dr. Cynthia Brodart" or "Cynthia Brodart, M.D." ?
         --- Cynthia Brodart

Dear Dr. Brodart:
     On your checks use Cynthia Brodart, M.D.
     Most formally one never gives oneself an honorific, so don't list yourself as "Dr. Cynthia Brodart".  Others address me as "Mr. Hickey" but I don't introduce myself by "Hello, I am Mr. Hickey."
    That said, sometimes medical doctors do identify themselves as "Dr. (surname)" in medical situations so the patient is certain that he or she is a physician and not a technician in a white coat. It comforting to us patients sitting in a backless gown to know you are the physician when you enter the exam room!
            -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Physician?
    My friend who was a physician but involved in a car accident and no longer practices due to his injuries is now retired. He no longer has a state license. He is now beginning a Life Coach career and would like to know if he can still be addressed by Dr. in his title in regards to writing his name, or, does he just put MD after his name.
          --- Linda Whedbee

Dear Ms. Whedbee:
   He will be addressed as Dr. ... forever ... in practice, retired, consulting, or coaching.
            Dr. William Smith     (oral address or social form of address)
                        or
            William Smith, MD   (traditional form used when addressing a letter to a physician at their office)
                     -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Physician Who Lost His License?
          I am involved in a case where the person on the other side is an MD who has lost his license, with good reason, in every state in the US where he ever held one.  Should this person still be addressed and referred to as Dr. Last Name? (i.e. Dr. Smith)
          Various judges and attorneys have weighed in on this subject.  A definitive answer from you would be much appreciated.
         -- S.B. in Chico

Dear S.B.
          I don't have a definitive answer for you, but several ideas come to mind. I sense there is a desire to address him as Mr. (name) to "reduce" him from being addressed as Dr. (name). 
          1) By custom, U.S. elected officials are addressed as The Honorable, unless they are removed from office or are leave in disgrace.  There is no protocol police force out there to enforce it, but that's the custom.
          2) The honorific Dr. is not issued by the local medical society. They issue licenses to practice with in a certain jurisdiction. Retired physicians who no longer maintain their license are still addressed as Dr. (name). So addressing as Dr. is not limited to only having a current license.
          3) There is no single Dr. with power over ALL the doctors in the same way a Bishop holds a high hierarchical office with power over all the lower ranked clerics.  In the case of a defrocked priest, since he is part of a hierarchy, someone can take his rank away.  But, being a physician is not part of this kind of hierarchy.
         4) Being a "Dr." is a personal rank: one is a Dr., 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is separate from having a particular job, like chief of staff at a hospital or chairman of the department of surgery. Those are offices one might be forced out of, but one remains a Dr.
          5) Being a doctor, ambassador or general are all personal ranks, and one is addressed by a personal rank in both professional and non-professional situations.  E.g., a physician is addressed Dr. (name) while seeing patients (present as a doctor) at the hospital. On weekends, when he is washing his car in his driveway (not present as a doctor), he's ALSO addressed as Dr. (name).
          So calling him Dr. when he's not a physician isn't much different than calling him Dr. when he's washing his car ... it's not pertinent to the task at hand ... but he continues to be addressed as Dr. (name).
          -- Robert Hickey

Who Has Higher Precedence: Doctors or Lawyers?
       If ever a host is to receive a medical doctor and a lawyer, with regards to the table seating, may I know please: Who would have precedence: the doctor or the lawyer?
       -- Marie Ange

Dear Ms. Ange,
    I am not aware of any situation in which precedence would be given to physicians and/or lawyers simply due to their profession.
    At official events doctors and lawyers have the precedence of a citizen, are listed alphabetically in a roster, and would not receive preferential seating.
    However, if he or she held an office (or attended an event in a role) that gave them higher precedence -- a doctor or lawyer might be seated by the precedence of their office. For example, as president of the local medical board and attending an event as the official representative the organization, a doctor might be seated with other community leaders.
    Or a doctor or lawyer is the guest of honor, then he or she would be seated to the right of the host at a table.
        -- Robert Hickey

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For forms of address for invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions, conversation, and all other formal uses, see Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address.

Copyright © 2013 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Marc Goodman.