The BC Medical Association, founded in 1900, recently changed its name to Doctors of BC. About 30 years ago the name Doctors BC was suggested (BCMJ 2014;56:170 [3]), at a time when complementary and alternative medicine practitioners were not allowed to have the title of doctor. I frequently see a full-page advertisement in the Province that is placed by a doctor for patients with neuropathy. A Google search for this doctor reveals him to have BSc and DC degrees. This individual has the legal right to be called a doctor; however, the public may misinterpret this individual as someone who belongs to Doctors of BC. In addition, any PhD has the right to use the title of doctor. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia has a list of doctors of BC. However, not all of them are members of Doctors of BC. I also wonder if the Canadian Medical Association will hesitate to follow BC’s lead and change its name to Doctors of Canada or Doctors Canada.
—H.C. George Wong, MD
Vancouver