The “Doctor” title: Respect or confusion?

Although Robert Cassola’s letter about the media not giving scientists and PhDs proper credit by using the appropriate title (PHYSICS TODAY, September 2011, page 8 ) is very interesting, I do not want to be called Dr. Kovalev unless I am acting as such.

Being a police officer or a physician gives a person both rights and obligations while off duty: You may be needed in an emergency. You have to be Officer Jones to handcuff somebody, and you have to be Dr. Jones to treat a patient. You also should uphold a certain level of personal integrity. So the media simply reflect the public perception of a special status those professions have. If some amateur with an associate’s degree finally finds the Higgs boson, nobody will object because he or she is not a “doctor.”

When I share my view as a physicist, then yes, the media should use the title to show that I am delivering a professional opinion and am (probably) qualified to do so. When I am talking about the beauty of the Grand Canyon or whether the Republicans have a chance to take the White House in 2012, I would like to be addressed as Mr. Kovalev.