[jack9]

"Doctor" is widely used throughout the US media without repercussion.

Dr. Phil - philosophy

Dr. Drew - medical doctor

Dr. Laura - physiology (honorary in tradition and culture from a tiny college)

Dr. Ruth - education

Dr. Oz - medical doctor

M.D. or Physician means what you think "Doctor" means. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/20/702.404

Legally, it depends on the very lenient existing laws of the land to determine if you are prohibited (or default allowed) to be referred to as a doctor when you receive a doctorate. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5026525/ (mentioned US and CAN)

[c3534l]

Dr. Phil is widely and routinely criticized for calling himself a doctor. The internet says Dr. Laura has a "Ph.D. in physiology." I had no idea Dr. Ruth wasn't a real medical doctor and I feel lied to learning that now. Your examples cement to me the idea that routinely calling yourself a doctor without a medical degree is extraordinarily dishonest and used to mislead people into thinking you have a level of expertise you don't.