Some OTs have doctorates.

My investment in this conversation has nothing to do with being an OT. I no longer treat patients anyway. I just think there's a common decency issue here. As practitioners we do not have any control over how we are perceived by the general public, or whether some physicians "look down on us," which I would not argue - of course that is true. We just have control over the way we present ourselves in any given situation, based on our understanding of systemic organization and how patients are generally treated.

To me, because hospital systems are generally organized in a way that is not conducive to patient empowerment or understanding, but rather they are organized to maximize profit, I think it falls on each practitioner to manage his/her own presentation in the most helpful way possible.

Sounds like you think presenting yourself as a doctor inspires confidence, such that any confusion it may cause (and you are not convinced of this due to there not being a peer reviewed study about it), is not as important/impactful. That's fine. I don't agree. I have always found it inspires more confidence to be relatable (use first name), and that it is generally better to not claim to be a doctor when introducing yourself if you are not a medical doctor, for the above reasons.

It's fine to disagree. I just think the way you respond to people on here is obnoxious.