Veterinary surgeons in the UK have been given permission to use the courtesy title ‘Doctor’, following a decision made by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) yesterday (5 March 2015). The decision follows a consultation, to which 11,202 responses were received, where 81% were in favour of the change, 13% against, and 6% did not mind either way. The issue had been raised in a bid to align the UK with international practice, providing greater clarity for the profession and offering reassurance to clients and the animal-owning public that all veterinary surgeons registered with the RCVS, regardless of where they qualified, have veterinary degrees of an appropriate standard. Most international veterinary surgeons use the title and, in Australia and New Zealand, this is frequently tied to registration and professional standing, rather than necessarily academic attainment. “I am very pleased that the response from the consultation gave Council such clear direction and has allowed us to br ...

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