Comments on: GUEST POST: Farrugia & Co. has no place in parliament

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:01:03 +0000

@Harry Purdie

But we ARE a Sicilian village aren’t we? (Pity our restaurants aren’t)

In Italy they have other titles too, Ragioniere Ugo Fantozzi anyone?

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:13:18 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg. Well, as old as my gums, a little older than my teeth! It stands for Baccalaureus Chirurgiae Dental or Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

By: Victor

Victor — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:17:20 +0000

In reply to Harry Purdie.

I totally agree with Harry Purdie.

Excellent post, Daphne. Your description of the current Maltese mentality could not have been more accurate.

It is so frustrating being a Maltese with some brains and a clear mind at the moment. Thank God for this blog and the majority of the comments herein.

[Daphne – I didn’t write this post. It’s a guest post.]

By: Superman

Superman — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:14:59 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg.

Seems it’s not as clearcut that dentists can’t call themselves dr. In the uk they probably can’t, but in Europe they can. See this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3329907/Dentists-claim-the-right-to-be-called-Dr.html

By: Harry Purdie

Harry Purdie — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:46:17 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg.

Don’t get me started on lawyers called Dr. Only in Malta and Italy.

Check out the US Congress. Full of lawyers, but not called Dr. Obama is a lawyer, does he call himsef Dr.?

My son is a lawyer in Switzerland. He is entitled to use the term ‘Maitre’, but prefers Mr.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:31:28 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg. How old are you, David Buttigieg? Do you know what a B.Ch.D. is?

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:21:52 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg.

Here’s a UK ruling on the matter

http://www.cap.org.uk/Advice-Training-on-the-rules/Advice-Online-Database/Use-of-the-term-Dr.aspx

Then again, this is Malta.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:16:06 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg.

Oh for god’s sake. Even I do not begrudge them the title. They’re Doctor.

Lawyers, on the other hand…

By: mrs pollacco

mrs pollacco — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:17:54 +0000

If Marlene Farrugia wants to do voluntary work she can treat dental patients for free, or go to Kenya for a few months.

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:07:45 +0000

In reply to David Buttigieg.

No, definitely not.

It’s true that in Malta, most dentists will get all high and mighty if not referred to as such, but dentists, though highly qualified, are not entitled to be called ‘Dr’.

Some do, of course, read for a Ph.D, in which case they are indeed Dr Whatever, but dentists who don’t only get a Bachelor’s degree.

From the University of Malta website “Besides the undergraduate course leading to a B.Ch.D., the Faculty also offers postgraduate courses at Masters and Ph.D. level.”

From Marlene Farrugia’s website: “Marlene embarked on her tertiary education at the University of Malta, from where she obtained her degree as BACHELOR of dental surgery …” no mention of Ph.D.

But then again, in Malta we even call architects ‘Perit’ instead of Mr\Ms don’t we?