Medical negligence news
25/09/2007

Say goodbye to the men in white coats

There is a new concern among medical professionals that doctors' white coats could be spreading disease, so the garment is to be abolished before any more medical negligence claims are made as a result of sloppy cleanliness.

The white coat was first introduced in the 19th Century to try and curb cross-contamination but in a ironical twist it is now believed that bacteria easily resides in the long sleeved coats, making it easier for doctors to pass on infection from patient to patient, ward to ward.

Banned already in some NHS trusts, the government is expected to file a national ban by January next year. The idea is to remove their potential as a medical negligence claim trigger.

London GP, Dr Ayan Panja has commented, "Coasts carry infection, they're hot and they can be a hassle if you are tearing down the corridor in an emergency. "I for one am not going to mourn their demise."

However, it seems that the eradication of the white coat has been creeping for a while. There has also been talk that the coats present a barrier to communication between doctors and their patients.

Some have argued that they believe the white coat helps distinguish doctors from everyone else on the ward. Although, pharmacists and blood porters, to name but a few, are now also opting for the white coat, so the idea that the coat is a distinctive status symbol no longer rings true.

Professor Colin Brown, a retired renal consultant from Sheffield has said, "I think the authority issue is an important one. And on the hygiene front well, I've seen people turn up to work in the same shirt every day. How clean is that? Coats are no more and no less hygienic than anything else people wear."

We are unsure what the answer is unless doctors carry out precautions close to those adopted when they scrub up before operations and wear disposable clothing for each patient they attend to.

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