Ditch that white coat

Cathel Kerr

doi:10.1503/cmaj.080362

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Ditch that white coat...?
Medard Berube

Posted on: 30 May 2008

Posted on: (30 May 2008)
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Ditch that white coat...?
Medard Berube
After many decades of dressing in lab coats, physicians -and other health-care workers- are now perceived as contributing to the spread of infectious diseases by wearing this symbol of the era of scientific medicine. More and more, health-care oriented literature contains articles condemning the use of this piece of garment. As well, neckties, once the mark of a well dressed man, are now frowned upon for the same reas...
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After many decades of dressing in lab coats, physicians -and other health-care workers- are now perceived as contributing to the spread of infectious diseases by wearing this symbol of the era of scientific medicine. More and more, health-care oriented literature contains articles condemning the use of this piece of garment. As well, neckties, once the mark of a well dressed man, are now frowned upon for the same reason. In the picture accompanying the above-mentioned article, a young man wearing the top of surgical scrubs also has, tied around his neck, what clearly appears to be a used face mask. The picture seems to be suggesting that this should now be the proper apparel to be worn around patients. It has always been my understanding that disposable surgical masks had two purposes: first: protect the patient at hand from the germs colonizing the user's throat and nose, and: protect the wearer from anything splashing from the patient. Having spent years in delivery, operating and emergency rooms, I have had my share of body fluids -and other unmentionable substances- on my glasses/goggles and, I assume, on my mask (and my face when I was not wearing a mask). I have always thought that single use masks -like facial tissues- were meant to be used once and discarded properly immediately after use, this being followed by careful hand washing. No reasonable person would consider wearing a used kleenex around their neck for any length of time, so why would it be different with a used surgical mask? In my opinion, a necktie, well tucked inside a clean, buttoned-up lab coat with short -or rolled up- sleeves will trump a dangling used face mask in the prevention of spread of infection nineteen times out of twenty, especially if accompanied by careful hand-washing between patients.
Respectfully submitted by:
Medard Berube, MD (Ret.) Edmundston, N. B.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
The editor replies:
It would come as no surprise to anyone that the News Editor has committed another fashion faux pas. In selecting a photo in which a used surgical mask was depicted, however, there was absolutely no intent to encourage physicians to adopt unhygienic apparel or utilize unhygienic equipment or practices. Thanks to Dr. Berube for pointing out the offending photo. Wayne Kondro News Editor, CMAJ
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Competing Interests: None declared.