MY perspective on the question of whether veterinary surgeons should be allowed to use the courtesy title doctor is as an American, having earned a BSc university degree before a DVM postgraduate degree. I have been concerned for many years that the UK system of veterinary education is failing to adequately prepare its graduates for life in the profession.

The problem begins with a system that pressurises 13- to 14-year-old students to chose a profession (who are often too immature to make such decisions) and then begins to restrict their education at GCSEs and then severely …