Kerala HC Bans ‘Dr’ Prefix for Occupational Therapists

The Kerala High Court has issued a landmark ruling banning physiotherapists and occupational therapists from using the “Dr” prefix unless they hold a medical degree recognized under the Indian Medical Degrees Act. The decision has been widely hailed by healthcare associations, including the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the All FMGs Association (AFA), who described it as a “great judgement.”

Background of the Case

The issue arose when several states allowed physiotherapists and occupational therapists to use the title “Dr.” without holding a medical degree. The case highlighted a conflict between the Indian Medical Act, 1916, and regulations of various state boards. The Kerala High Court noted that using the prefix without proper medical credentials misleads patients and violates existing laws. The court observed that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had earlier considered including the title in its Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy, but withdrew the proposal after strong objections from medical associations.

Supreme Court Reference

This ruling echoes a 2019 Supreme Court order, which also prohibited non-medical professionals, including physiotherapists, from using the “Dr” title unless they were registered under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 or the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The Kerala High Court reinforced this stance, emphasizing patient safety and the accurate representation of professional qualifications.

FAIMA and AFA Reactions

FAIMA celebrated the verdict on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Great Judgement by #KeralaHighCourt. Now Physiotherapist & Occupational Health Therapists cannot use 'Dr' Prefix! Only Qualified Healthcare Professional can use!" The post, shared on November 5, included images of the court order and received over 2,000 likes and 500 retweets by 10:29 AM the next day. AFA also echoed the sentiment, stating:"The Kerala High Court has ruled that physiotherapists and occupational health therapists are no longer permitted to use the ‘Dr’ prefix. Only qualified healthcare professionals should use it."

Controversy and Past Developments

The controversy gained momentum in 2022 when the Maharashtra Medical Council allowed physiotherapists to use “Dr” after certain courses. This move faced backlash from medical associations, which argued that it could mislead patients about the practitioner’s medical skills. FAIMA and AFA met with the Director General of Health Services on September 19, 2022, to push for a reversal of the practice. The Kerala High Court, in its recent order, highlighted a mismatch between the 1916 Indian Medical Act and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Act. It concluded that allowing therapists to use “Dr” could wrongly suggest medical expertise, which they do not possess. The court directed officials to immediately stop this practice and remove the title from all official records.