David Oliver: Should doctors be on first name terms?

Summary

In this BMJ perspective, David Oliver, a consultant in geriatrics and acute general medicine, discusses whether doctors should keep with tradition of using their professional titles amongst colleagues and patients, or whether, as in his own hospital, first names should be used as part of a wider focus on patient safety and a human factors culture.

Of course, professional roles and hierarchies remain important in healthcare. Different people have different training or experience, and it’s important to have clear team leadership and responsibilities, especially in emergency care. But first names are part of a push to build strong team working, flatten hierarchies, and improve patient safety by making it easier for less senior team members or different clinical professionals to question senior doctors and “stop the line” before avoidable harm occurs.