"call in" or "call out"

The first is never seen.

We normally say, "Will you call a doctor?" Then it's up to doctor whether he comes out or not. Out, that is, from his clinic or his home.

You could also say "call a doctor out" then you are requesting he visits you.
It's almost the same.
But I've never seen "call a doctor in", (even though you may want him to come in!)

Flip it for the Canadian usage.

We would call in a doctor if we wanted a house call. We'd call in a specialist if a g.p. wasn't sufficient.

We would rarely (if ever) use call out. I'm not sure what it would mean if someone said it, but they could give it a go

I would also call in a specialist, or my doctor would.

I think "call out" is limited to the doctor's perspective. "I got called out for an emergency."

I can imagine a nurse finding a patient in distress and saying, "Call a doctor in" or a report reading, "Dr. Bob was called in at 4:36."

Hi Tsv,
The second sentence is correct "The illness is serious now, will you call out a doctor?".

selectmytutor - where do you live?

The phrasal verb 'call in' can have a number of meanings.

We call in a professional, or someone more skilled or specialised, when a task requires skills or experience we do not have. I might change a light bulb myself, but if a power outlet starts to emit smoke, I would call in an electrician. Likewise a plumber, an accountant, an auditor, an architect, a drainage expert, an IT specialist, the police, etc.

However, when we call in a debt, favour or promise we are asking for something to be paid or done that was previously explicitly or implicitly promised.

A boss or senior person in an organisation might call in a junior person to his or her office for consultation or discipline.

A good dictionary is a learner's friend. The Macmillan Dictionary lists these meanings:

1. Visit a place/person
2. Phone a radio/television programme
3. Ask someone to come and help
4. Ask someone to discuss something
5. Phone to say where you are