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.
