name-title
Does usage of a title/salutation like doctor/professor have legal ramifications?
<p>As I identify as a male adult, my understanding is that I should select "Mr." when asked for my title when filling out forms.</p>

<p>I noticed a feature in my online bank portal which allowed me to change the title pre-pended to my name in communications. Changing this to Doctor (for which I am not recognised) worked instantly.</p>

<p>Could asking to be referred to as Doctor or Professor when you do not hold either rank, illegal in any way? This is without any intent to claim one has studied in either field, simply asking that a company refers to them by that title.</p>

<p><a href="/questions/tagged/australia" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;australia&#39;" rel="tag">australia</a></p>

<p><strong>It's dishonest. Dishonesty is not, in general, illegal.</strong></p>

<p>Dishonesty <em>is</em> illegal when it is used to obtain someone else's property or financial advantage through <a href="http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/s192e.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">fraud</a>. It's also illegal if it's part of a statement made when applying for an <a href="http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/s307a.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">authorisation or benefit</a>.</p>

<p><strong>It's potentially misleading. Misleading people is not, in general, illegal.</strong></p>

<p>Misleading <em>is</em> illegal when it takes place in <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/advertising-selling/advertising-and-selling-guide/avoid-misleading-or-deceptive-claims-or-conduct/misleading-or-deceptive-conduct" rel="nofollow noreferrer">trade or commerce</a>.</p>

<p><strong>It gives you a title you don't hold. Claiming a title you don't hold is not, in general, illegal</strong> </p>

<p>Claiming a title you don't hold <em>is</em> illegal if it is a protected title under Australian law. For example, there are protected titles under the <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/About-AHPRA/What-We-Do/FAQ.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">National Health Practionioners Registration Scheme</a>: "medical practitioner" is a protected title; "doctor" isn't. Further, holding yourself out to be able to practice in certain professions when you are not (e.g. law, engineering in some states etc.) is illegal.</p>

<h2>Context matters</h2>

<p>Putting on a white gown, wearing a stethoscope and calling yourself "doctor" when attending a fancy dress party is not illegal. Doing it to angle for a free upgrade on your airline ticket is.</p>

<p>That totally depends on jurisdiction.</p>

<p>In many countries, academic titles carry no specific legal meaning. However, even in that case you could still be prosecuted for general fraud, if you somehow used the claimed title to deceive someone.</p>

<hr>

<p>Some jurisdictions do have specific laws regulating the use of academic titles. For example, in <strong>Germany</strong> the laws on higher education of the Länder (<em>Hochschulgesetz</em>) regulate the use of academic degrees as titles. These laws define what use is legitimate or not, and illegitimate use is punishable under <a href="https://dejure.org/gesetze/StGB/132a.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">§ 132a
Mißbrauch von Titeln, Berufsbezeichnungen und Abzeichen</a> ("Misuse of titles, job designations and insignia").</p>

<p>The maximum penalty is one year imprisonment, though prosecution is rare, and generally only happens when the title is used with a concrete intention to defraud. For example, <a href="https://dost-rechtsanwalt.de/files/beschluss_kg_11.02.13.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a court ruled in 2013</a> that wrongly using a title just for fun is not punishable.</p>
