TV host Dr Chris Brown questions whether he should drop the ‘Dr’

TV host and veterinarian Dr Chris Brown details the awkward situation that led him to question whether the ‘Dr’ part of his name is more trouble than it’s worth.

It’s probably too much to say it’s an identity crisis, but hear me out. I’m starting to question whether the “Dr” part of my name is really worth it.

For starters, the main function of those two letters seems to be to differentiate me from the other, slightly less family friendly Chris Brown in entertainment news articles.

“I’m starting to question whether the “Dr” part of my name is really worth it.” (Picture: Michael Comninus)

Oh, and to assure paying clients at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital that I am indeed qualified to take their French bulldog’s temperature in that most unique of ways.

But it’s another, entirely more dramatic scenario that has prompted my rethink on whether it’s an N.O. to the D.R.

Just a few weeks ago I was in a cafe when a woman crossing the road outside was clipped by a cyclist. A moment after the (thankfully) non-life-threatening collision, the call went out across the cafe: “Is anyone here a doctor?”

Followed by a dreaded pause. Nothing. No-one. Nada.

It’s at this point that I fully appreciate that, despite humans not being one of the many species I’m legally allowed to treat, I am clearly the most medically qualified here. Importantly, my patient is in shock more than anything else and it’s clear she’ll make a full recovery.

“I’d like to suggest I henceforth become known as DoR (Devoid of Responsibility) Chris Brown.” (Picture: Instagram)

It’s reasonable to excuse her confusion when she comes to, though. She’s being tended to by a vet and a woman named Becky, who – given her role as spray-tan applicator at the salon across the road – probably has a greater knowledge of human anatomy and dermatology than I.

Sure, it’s an unconventional roadside triage team, but a highly effective one. That is, until a flash of beige chino descends on the scene and declares, “I’m a doctor. I’ll take it from here.”

Now, even though he doesn’t use the word “human” before “doctor”, I know it’s implied.

I know it’s not the time for Australia’s most measured, polite and tactful turf war, but it is a reminder of how those two letters can put me in some awkward situations.

And roadsides aren’t the only place fraught with danger for doctors like me. Try stepping on a plane with that prefix. I always dread the inflight emergency where flight attendants scan the passenger list for a life-saving medical professional and falsely place all their hope in someone who would probably mutter a word similar to infarction if presented with someone suffering from a heart episode…

Dr Chris Brown features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

In fact, for years, flight attendants joked with me that “things would have to get pretty desperate” for them to call upon my kind of “Dr”. And just a few years ago, things clearly did get desperate enough for me to be asked to help out a heavily pregnant woman in seat 26C with some blood-pressure issues – issues that were clearly not helped by the sight of a man trained to use something akin to a car-jack to deliver calves and foals.

Both mother and baby were fine, but this brings me to my point about the high pressure of the use of this two-letter prefix on veterinarians.

So I only see two options here. We either really let the balloon go and legally unleash vets on humans as a kind of “alternative” health professional (we do have a proven history of vaccine rollouts), or come up with a clearer prefix to remove any potential confusion.

I’d like to suggest I henceforth become known as DoR (Devoid of Responsibility) Chris Brown…

Dr Chris Brown is a veterinarian and television host.

Originally published as TV host Dr Chris Brown questions whether he should drop the ‘Dr’