Did the AMA trademark the title “Doctor”? Seems that way
The AP style guide says reporters should only refer to people in medicine with a Doctor title and others, with earned Doctorates should not be referred to as Doctor, although their degree may be mentioned later in the report. Often their qualifications are not mentioned. It is as if the AMA has trademarked the Doctor title or something.
It also creates situations where medical doctors pontificating on subjects outside their field, are called Doctor, while experts in those fields, with actual Doctorates in the subject are referred to by name only – and in some old school pubs like the WSJ, might even be referred to as Mr or Ms. This creates – to the reader – a distortion of relative expertise as the title Doctor becomes short hand for “expert”. Furthermore, in some countries, medical doctors may not have an earned doctorate either – but are referred to using the Doctor title. This has ramifications for propagandizing media reports.