Are you a "doc"?

[ScubaDocER]

For some reason nobody defers to the lawyers' expertise here, which I find amusing and they must find maddening.

I recently suggested that we develop a Legal Forum here on SB because I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute to the discussions on diving related incidents. It did not receive a great deal of support.

 

[vladimir]

I recently suggested that we develop a Legal Forum here on SB because I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute to the discussions on diving related incidents.

I agree.

It did not receive a great deal of support.

I think it's a great idea.

 

[Crush]

I am now relieved that the "My SB name includes doc or dr - I am a physician or surgeon" and "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I am a physician or surgeon" are evening up, and that "My SB name includes doc or dr - I am a health care provider" and "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I am a health care provider" are also drawing neigh - this fits with my original hypothesis.

And to those who opted for "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I have a Ph.D." - my people, you do me proud.

Cheers

 

[ScubaDocER]

I agree.

I think it's a great idea.

I don't know how to link posts, but it is in the Site Support section under Suggestions. A few attorneys responded, but there was not unified support. Like the Medical Forum without docs, a Legal Forum without attorneys would not hold substance.

 

[ScubaDocER]

I am now relieved that the "My SB name includes doc or dr - I am a physician or surgeon" and "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I am a physician or surgeon" are evening up, and that "My SB name includes doc or dr - I am a health care provider" and "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I am a health care provider" are also drawing neigh - this fits with my original hypothesis.

And to those who opted for "My SB name doesn't include doc or dr - I have a Ph.D." - my people, you do me proud.

Cheers

This is an interesting thread. I think that amongst docs, it really doesn't matter. Often when I see a doc mention their credentials on SB it is to give some background as to the source of the person responding. Beyond that, I don't think they care. The risks are often greater than the rewards. Not only do you potentially expose yourself to increased liability, you may find that someone wants to make you their personal physician. Most docs attempt to provide genuine answers to questions posted. I have not seen them use their titles to do much more than that.

I am of the belief that anyone who has completed a doctoral program, regardless of their field of study, has earned the right to be called a doctor. Whether it is a doctorate of law, doctorate of education, philosophy, etc. A physician is simply a person who has completed their doctorate of medicine. No more or less important than any other field of study. It seems that people outside the profession make a bigger deal out of it than those within.

As I said earlier, as far as I am concerned, just call me Anthony.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I recently suggested that we develop a Legal Forum here on SB because I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute to the discussions on diving related incidents. It did not receive a great deal of support.

I don't know how to link posts, but it is in the Site Support section under Suggestions. A few attorneys responded, but there was not unified support. Like the Medical Forum without docs, a Legal Forum without attorneys would not hold substance.

This is an interesting thread. I think that amongst docs, it really doesn't matter. Often when I see a doc mention their credentials on SB it is to give some background as to the source of the person responding. Beyond that, I don't think they care. The risks are often greater than the rewards. Not only do you potentially expose yourself to increased liability, you may find that someone wants to make you their personal physician. Most docs attempt to provide genuine answers to questions posted. I have not seen them use their titles to do much more than that.

My friend, Chris, is a dentist in Manhattan. When he was heavily involved in cave and technical diving, he would think nothing of calling me at any hour of the day or night to ask me questions about diving. On one cave trip, I wondered if I had chipped a tooth because my tongue felt something wasn't right when passing across the tooth. I asked him to look at it and let me know if I was correct in my assumption. His response, "Oh, no way, man! I've been doing dentistry all week. This is my vacation." Geez, I just wanted him to let me know if I needed to see a dentist about it right away. I remarked, "Dude, you call me at 2 A.M. leaving a bar and ask me about ratio decompression." He said, "Yeah, but diving is fun!"

I guess we scuba instructors are the schmucks for being stupid enough to increase our liabilities by being on message boards like SB, and even more dumb for not charging for every moment of our time. When I lived in Miami, my roommate was an attorney whose clients were mostly doctors. She would sit on the couch, watch TV, and bill them full hourly rates to stick "Sign Here" tabs on legal forms.

Once, on TDS, I posted a thread about my 2007 course fee structure borrowing what I learned from the way other "professionals" conduct business. I reincarnated it here: A More Professional Way of Billing

Personally, I think when professionals with something valid to contribute don't step up in their physical and on-line communities, it is a cop out.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

...Personally, I think when professionals with something valid to contribute don't step up in their physical and on-line communities, it is a cop out.

Agreed.

You will see that a number do step up and try to help when they can here.

Best wishes.

 

[Rhone Man]

I recently suggested that we develop a Legal Forum here on SB because I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute to the discussions on diving related incidents. It did not receive a great deal of support.

I think there is a difference though - doctors all over the world treat human beings and so are qualified to express medical opinions regardless on where they are from. Lawyers are trained in the laws of their own specific jurisdictions, so there is limited value in a lawyer from (say) the British Virgin Islands commenting on potential legal ramifications from a diving incident in California.

As I have said more than once on SB: I take the advice people give about diving in these forums with a pinch of salt - but you would have to be completely mad to put any weight on the legal advice stated in some of the threads.

By the way, I am very impressed that you managed to say "I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute" with a straight face - the usual sentiment is pretty firmly in the opposite direction

 

[ScubaDocER]

I think there is a difference though - doctors all over the world treat human beings and so are qualified to express medical opinions regardless on where they are from. Lawyers are trained in the laws of their own specific jurisdictions, so there is limited value in a lawyer from (say) the British Virgin Islands commenting on potential legal ramifications from a diving incident in California.

As I have said more than once on SB: I take the advice people give about diving in these forums with a pinch of salt - but you would have to be completely mad to put any weight on the legal advice stated in some of the threads.

By the way, I am very impressed that you managed to say "I do believe that the attorneys here have a great deal to contribute" with a straight face - the usual sentiment is pretty firmly in the opposite direction

I do appreciate that there are differences in the law with regard to location and geography. I do think there is valid advice that an attorney can provide to basic questions. An example would be "Should I carry equipment insurance if I am an independent instructor and would might the consequences be if I do not?" Sometimes they can provide an historical perspective that might be helpful. As in the Medical Forum, they can always suggest that the person consult their own attorney. This forum would simply be for providing advice and/or suggestions. Not to be someones online attorney. Someone can always take the advice with a pinch of salt as well.

And I do believe that attorneys have a great deal to contribute. Oddly enough, the only time I have ever needed an attorney is to protect me from another attorney.

 

[Peter Guy]

The only times I use "Doctor" as a prefix is when I'm calling my physician wife and the receptionist doesn't know me and tells me she's too busy. Then the call goes right through which is almost as quick as a call to a physician/lawyer/banker from the guy who is working on their boat!