The Kerala High Court has held that the title “doctor” or the prefix “Dr.” is not exclusively reserved for medical practitioners and that qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists may use the prefix “Dr.” before their names. The Court rejected petitions filed by medical professionals that sought to restrict this use.
Justice V.G. Arun noted that the word “doctor” originally referred to a person with a high level of learning — such as one qualified to teach theology, law, or philosophy — long before it became commonly associated with medical practitioners. Therefore, the claim that only medical professionals are entitled to use the title “doctor” was described as a misconception.
The Court observed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act does not contain any provision granting an exclusive right to use the prefix “Dr.” to MBBS or other medical degree holders. It also rejected the argument that Section 40 of the Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act gives medical professionals an exclusive entitlement to use the title. Since there was no statutory provision conferring such exclusivity, the petitioners could not claim a monopoly over the prefix.
Additionally, the High Court declined to read down the provisions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, which recognises physiotherapists and occupational therapists as health professionals, including their qualification and scope of practice, on the basis of the medical professionals’ objections. The Court noted that it would be inappropriate to tinker with central policy decisions at the behest of a few practitioners.
In essence, the judgment affirms that the use of the prefix “Dr.” is not the exclusive preserve of medical doctors, and allied health professionals with recognised qualifications may also use it in accordance with law and established practice.
