MovieChat Forums > Flatliners (1990) Discussion > Calling each other 'Dr.'?

Calling each other 'Dr.'?

posted 7 years ago by fiatlux-1
5 replies | jump to latest

They weren't even out of medical school yet! Why were they calling each other 'Dr.'?
Wishful thinking?

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] roraio 7 years ago

Doesn't everyone who goes to medical school jokingly refer to themselves as 'Dr.' ? Same goes for law school ('lawyer'). Most recently, I have met PhD students who called themselves 'Dr.', so I guess egocentric people can be like that pretty often.
Also, the characters seemed to be pretty good at being 'doctors' (bringing each other back to life) and, for cinematic purposes as well, I guess the writers decided to include this aspect so that the viewers to constantly be reminded that they were soon to be doctors.

[–] Costumer (1787) 6 years ago

Also, regarding your comments about Ph.D.'s. They are also doctors. A PH.D is a doctorate degree. Yes, it can be confusing. If we could go back we should probably use a different title. However, we cannot go back, so a person who holds a Ph.D. is a doctor and deserves to be addressed by that title.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I think rorario already knew that :)
also there is Dr Who

[–] Costumer (1787) 6 years ago

I haven't seen the film in many years. However, IRRC, they are residents. Residents have graduated from Medical School and are M.D.s. As residents, they may enter private practice as physicians. They are doctors and may refer to themselves as doctors.

[–] MaximRecoil (4073) 6 years ago

They were in medical school, which is why they were taking graded exams and specifically mentioned the prospect of getting kicked out of medical school.