Trust me, I'm a lawyer

Posted by Lewis on March 09, 2006

In Reply to: Trust me, I'm a doctor posted by James Briggs on March 08, 2006

: : : : I've spent many hours trying to find the origin of the phrase "Trust me, I'm a doctor". I've found no references for it. Does anyone know where it came from?

: : : : Cheers,

: : : : Persephone

: : : Could it be Zoot (Carol Cleveland) in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? I remember her saying to Galahad (Michael Palin) "Please, we are doctors" as she and her fellow sirens attempted to disrobe and examine the chaste knight.

: : Did you have to mention Carol Cleveland, Brian? Oh God, it hurts! But the only way one is going to find the first person who used the expression humorously (is it every used otherwise?) is if he gives himself up. Or takes credit. And even then, he could be lying. Once some comic says this is a public place, everyone will start imitating him. Fred Allen, Johnny Carson, George Burns--it sounds exactly like their type of humor, and that of dozens of others. I don't remember it from Aristophanes, but Plautus could have said something like that. SS

: A few years ago there was a UK TV series of that name. In it a real medical doctor offered advice and insights into various medical problems. Whether the name was original, or taken from elsewhere, I don't know.

The "trust me I'm doctor" has become so established that other professionals have borrowed it with variable levels of irony. years ago, I picked up a badge saying "trust me I'm a lawyer" and there were others in the shop listing different professions. I think that badge was about 20 years ago, so the doctor's expression must pre-date that by some time.