Comments on: Medical Fact of the Day – Why White Coats? http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/medical-fact-of-the-day-why-white-coats/ Learn Medicine with a Medical Student Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:16:29 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Allen http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/medical-fact-of-the-day-why-white-coats/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Allen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:35:38 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=47#comment-42 George: Lawyers in the UK do wear wigs, right? ;) I can think of several reasons doctors still wear coats: -they're functional since they give pockets to hold lots of stuff. -the popular media perpetuates this image (pharmaceutical commercials to blame as well) so patients expect it. The abandoment of the robe and wig (I assume) occurred before the advent of television and so disappeared from the public conscience. It's also still necessary for lawyers to dress _well_ in general. A lawyer wearing jeans and a sweatshirt would have no credibility, and so there is still a remnant of symbolism in the whole ordeal. George: Lawyers in the UK do wear wigs, right? ;)

I can think of several reasons doctors still wear coats:

-they’re functional since they give pockets to hold lots of stuff.
-the popular media perpetuates this image (pharmaceutical commercials to blame as well) so patients expect it. The abandoment of the robe and wig (I assume) occurred before the advent of television and so disappeared from the public conscience.

It’s also still necessary for lawyers to dress _well_ in general. A lawyer wearing jeans and a sweatshirt would have no credibility, and so there is still a remnant of symbolism in the whole ordeal.

]]> By: Curious George http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/medical-fact-of-the-day-why-white-coats/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Curious George Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:09:52 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=47#comment-36 Other professions seem to have evolved past a symbolic uniform. Lawyers, for example, no longer wear robes and wigs (although judges still do). Why is the medical profession more tied to the uniform? Other professions seem to have evolved past a symbolic uniform. Lawyers, for example, no longer wear robes and wigs (although judges still do). Why is the medical profession more tied to the uniform?

]]> By: Tyler http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/medical-fact-of-the-day-why-white-coats/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Tyler Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:18:19 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=47#comment-29 The white coat really is a fickle concept. On one hand, it may serve as an invisible barrier between patients but on the other it offers comfort for patience to know they are in safe with a medical professional. The white coat really is a fickle concept. On one hand, it may serve as an invisible barrier between patients but on the other it offers comfort for patience to know they are in safe with a medical professional.

]]> By: Protocol Snow http://blog.allencheng.com/2009/10/medical-fact-of-the-day-why-white-coats/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Protocol Snow Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:47:54 +0000 http://blog.allencheng.com/?p=47#comment-20 I agree, patients address me as Doc all the time. I've stopped correcting them, though I did have a funny encounter a few weeks ago. I was doing pre-rounds on a 14 year old girl with meningitis. Her mom was asking me basic questions about the disease when the girl said, "Mom, stop grilling him! He's just a med student!" I agree, patients address me as Doc all the time. I’ve stopped correcting them, though I did have a funny encounter a few weeks ago. I was doing pre-rounds on a 14 year old girl with meningitis. Her mom was asking me basic questions about the disease when the girl said, “Mom, stop grilling him! He’s just a med student!”

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