I was reading this weekend about how the American Medical Association (AMA) is in talks about efforts against the white lab coats that many doctors wear to work. This entry in the Wall Street Journal's blog explains a bit of the reasoning behind why. Essentially, lab coat sleeves have been pointed to as a carrier of disease between patients, especially in hospitals. The WSJ report cites the CDC's finding that ~100,000 people died of hospital-contracted diseases in 2002. There has been no correlation between this gargantuan number and lab coats. However, the logic of those proposing to get rid of the coats is that if they increase risk of infection by even a minimal amount, they should be eliminated.
Meanwhile, those who fear the loss of the symbolism and respect carried by the lab coat are intent on seeing more research before taking action. Britain has already carried out a similar decision, as described in this BBC article from Sept. 2007.
These poor lab coats... subject to the great irony of representing professionalism and cleanliness but pointed to as carriers of disease. I draw a connection between these AMA talks and how recent presidential advocacy sessions for health care have been careful to have white coat-adorned doctors present, as discussed here. Of course, anybody can understand why the White House was so intent that the doctors were wearing lab coats--throughout the health care debate, doctors' opinions have been important in swaying public opinion, and doctors dressed in lab coats make for a much more direct image for the public than those in suits.
Images courtesy of ahrp.org and thethinkingblog.com.
11 comments:
Well, if the lab coat sleeves are the culprits, doesn't that mean that all sleeves could be potential culprits? So therefore do all doctors have to go with short sleeves? Or sleeveless? o.0
~Victor Hung
Nevertheless, unclean hands will do the job if lab coat sleeves don't. How about changing into a clean lab coat before seeing every patient? That would do the job. (like gloves)
I thought issues concerning white labcoats were around people going around in lab coats for the image. Since doctors are so trusted, the public sees lab coats, for instance in advertising, and automatically feels obligated to buy whatever product they are selling.
Yes, that means all sleeves are potential culprits. ;o
Interesting about the lab coat sleeves...
However, I think the symbolism of the white lab coat is the more interesting issue here. It's funny how people hold such high standards to people who simply look the part.
In AP Psych we learned about the Milgram experiment. It was more about people's response to authority, but it also presented a finding about what a white lab coat can mean.
In the experiment, researchers had a subject "shock" another person in another room. They weren't actually shocking them, but they thought they were seriously hurting an unknown individual. However, an "doctor" (in a white lab coat) continued to prod them to administer the shocks and higher and higher voltages, assuring them that he knew what he was doing. When the people who followed through with the entire experiment where questioned about why they continued, many of them pointed to the appearance of the authority figure. Although the "doctor" was really just another actor in on the experiment, the fact that he looked like he knew what he was doing reassured the people. The majority of people simply trusted him because he looked like a legitimate doctor.
Obama is obviously aware of how these magical white lab coats are perceived by the public and is using this to his advantage--"throughout the health care debate, doctors' opinions have been important in swaying public opinion, and doctors dressed in lab coats make for a much more direct image for the public than those in suits."
-Katie Jensen
Katie, that's an apt connection to the Milgram experiment. I think that this symbolism definitely is related to a larger issue of appearances mattering more to people than actual efficacy/reliability. Since this is an American Government blog,after all, the parallel I draw is to candidate-centered campaigns. The media tend to disregard specific policy positions and emphasize more visceral things--the way candidates carry themselves, mudslinging, political jockeying. Again, the battle is won and lost in appearance to the public. I think of the first nationally televised debates, between Nixon and Kennedy. Those who listened to the debate said Nixon won, for the most part; those who watched it said Kennedy did. The people watching were influenced more by Kennedy's composure, though he in reality may have come across as weaker in knowledge/stance on issues.
poor lab coats! I mean Its not there fault that they get dirty! I feel that if doctors were smart(they are) They would have multipul lab coats and wash them regularly. I think that the lab coats doo seem like a status to some people but it dosent really matter if they are there or not. MORE REASEARCH PLEASE!!!! well atleast if you take them away
Why are lab coats symbolistic of doctors... the two times Ive seen lab coat they were being worn by someone who wqas not touching the patient, as I remember it they were all in short sleeves.((edit of last comment))
I have noticed the same thing as Tim. I tend to see doctors wearing lab coats when doing simple check ups, and physicals. But otherwise, to my knowledge, nurses and doctors performing procedures that would involve the potential to spread infection, tend to wear scrubs which are short sleeves. I volunteered at the vet one summer, and during every surgical procedure, the doctors wore short sleeve scrubs and a one time use, sterilized robe-type-of thing.
I think I am also guilty of reacting the same way the people in the Milgram experiment did.. D;
Just seeing two "doctors", one wearing a labcoat and the other wearing more casual clothing automatically makes me think the one wearing a labcoat is more experienced and professional.
Thankfully, reading "Unspun: Finding facts in a world of disinformation" has taught me to be aware of all of the tricks being used to deceive the public. Just because someone is wearing a lab coat does not mean they are more reliable or better than doctors who do not wear them.
"However, the logic of those proposing to get rid of the coats is that if they increase risk of infection by even a minimal amount, they should be eliminated."
This is almost laughable. I'm sure there's more things that hold more responsibility for patients getting sick. And like what Victor said, this does extend to all attire with long sleeves. So getting rid of labcoats won't accomplish much of anything health-related.
To be honest, I'd much rather have a doctor dress up as a doctor. I don't want people from different elements of my life mixing roles. It would be uncomfortably awkward for a doctor or even a president to dress up as a rapper or gangster. Sure, clothes don't determine how skilled a professional is, but they do determine how we relate to the person(s). And I don't want to relate, for example, senior citizens in the same way I relate with my peers. I'm not saying we should judge a person by his/her clothes, but I am saying that I don't want, for example, authorities mixing up with my personal life. By dressing up like us,for example, authorities may show intent to do so.
By dressing dressing up as a doctor, he/she is purposely separating him/herself from the rest of us, and that's how I like it. It's more about intention to separate than deceive at times.
"Since this is an American Government blog,after all, the parallel I draw is to candidate-centered campaigns. The media tend to disregard specific policy positions and emphasize more visceral things--the way candidates carry themselves, mudslinging, political jockeying."
That's because candidate-oriented politics has more drama than issue-oriented politics. People would much rather read about Bill Clinton and John Edwards cheating on their wives than read about a debate on foreign policy.
ha i agree with all those seeing the lab coat being the victim of that Wall Street Journal blog.
for the matter of cleanliness of the lab coat i agree with victor about there really being no difference if doctors were to wear a suit or lab coat. all of the clothing has sleeves and will get dirty.
so it is really just a matter of staying clean and sterile which would require changing of lab coats over the course of a day or something like that
and for the symbolism of the coat i completely agree with katie in that the coat is a representation of doctors and they can sway decisions for the healthcare debate
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