Male doctors and ties

[edthedoc]

OK, I'm not expecting a totally serious thread here but anyway...

I normally dress "smart but casual" when working in clinic: smart trousers, shirt but no tie: I gave up wearing ties several years ago, for several reasons and haven't had any adverse comments since as it isn't exactly unusual for doctors not to wear ties.

What do you think?

Should male doctors wear ties?

P.S.
If you do have an opinion either way, let us know what country you're from because I'm interested if there is a cultural difference to patients' expectations of doctors.

[LillyThePink]

So long as they aren't naked, I'm fine with jeans or whatever. Naked doctors are scary.

:D I can't vote, but that's my opinion. My ex doctor wore combats and outdoorsy-hiking stuff - doesn't affect the way she handles her patients.

I'm in the UK, btw.

[roger]

I voted don't mind. I want the doctor to be comfortable, as I want him focused on my problems, not on how his tie is chaffing his neck, or worried that he is dressed 'too casually'. So, whatever makes him comfortable is fine with me.

I live on the east coast (usa).

[Dragonrock]

As long as the doctor is dressed neatly I don't think it matters. Some think that people are more productive if they are dressed up. My company has a policy that jeans are okay except for people who interact with customers, then it's smart casual. Unfortunately talking on the phone is interacting with the customer and the entire helpdesk is required to wear slacks. I guess the thought of someone hearing jeans would turn them off of our product.

[Hellcat]

One of my shrinks wears a tie currently Bart simpson and jeans, the other wears loud socks and a suit. the latter I banned from wearing pink shirts I hate men in pink shirts. Sham i can't stop him MMM'ing me though that's infuriating.

Personally I don't mind as long as I get some decent treatment and I would have thought that a tie is a nuisance when examining people or a possible danger?

My 2 female shrinks they normally dress in suits though one did wear jeans and a jacket yesterday looked better though I wish she get some decent glasses shesh they are vile what she wears.

Hellcat fashion police to the shrinks.

[arcticpenguin]

Thoracic surgeons should not wear ties. You wouldn't want that thing dangling in your internal organs...

No separate choice for bow ties?

No Planet X option?

[Denise]

I don't care about ties, but they must have a stethoscope around their neck or they aren't a real doctor! Yep, that's right. Actually, more than clothes I notice if a doctor doesn't wash their hands between patients. When I was a child with chronic strep, the doctor I had always washed his hands when he came into the room. I never see this anymore except it it's a gyn exam.

[Yahweh]

I dont like ties. My neckwear doesnt go much furthter than a glowstick on a string. Those are nice because they glow... psychodellic.

[BillyJoe]

Absolutely nobody should be required to wear a tie.
Why anyone would want to wear a tie is completely beyond me.
A doctor who wears a tie creates a wall between himself and his patient - run like hell, he's more interested in his pocket than in you. Glad you don't wear one Eddy (am I forgiven :) )

BillyJoe
(From Mooroolbark)

PS: But don't ask me I haven't seen a doctor since a case of ballache when I was in my teens.

PPS: Mooroolbark is in Melbourne, Australia

[roger]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
Thoracic surgeons should not wear ties. You wouldn't want that thing dangling in your internal organs...
OTOH, it would come in handy for wiping up blood splatters or quickly tieing some off some tube.

[Dr. Imago]

Unfortunately, I do not have much say in the matter. It's short white-coat and ties for me for the next two years. Also, it's not-wearing-the-stethoscope-around-the-neck, standing aside and only speaking when spoken to, and basically doing what I'm told to do (a.k.a., scutwork time). In a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, medical students are considered by many attendings to be (as I heard recently in my advance intro to clinical medicine course) like a girl from a high-paid escort service: they are supposed to stand there, look pretty, and keep their mouths shut serving basically no other purpose than to make the primary physician look good. :D

Seriously, patients do have a certain perception of what a doctor is supposed to look like...

... overall, the studies showed that patients do care about how their doctor looks. Surprisingly, neckties don't seem to matter. In study after study, however, patients have more confidence in doctors who wear white coats and a name tag.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79807.htm

Patients left little doubt that they expected their doctor and staff to dress in what is best known as a professional manner. In effect, jeans and sandals were out. White coats, dress pants and name badges were in.

...

Patients, the study shows, perceive a well-dressed doctor as being more meticulous and serious about his or her work. They worry that a doctor who appears slovenly may also be haphazard in caring for them.

http://chealth.canoe.ca/columns.asp?columnistid=6&articleid=5613

Again, at least for a few more years, I have no choice... ;)

-TT

[Leroy]

A doctor should wear whatever he is comfortably wearing. I hate ties.

[BillyJoe]

TT,

Edthedoc is asking about General Practitioners.
I think patients' expectations of hospital doctors are perhaps somewhat different.
I don't think many GP's wear white coats and I don't think their patients would expect them to.

Anyway, suffer man, you got plenty of time to grow a big head (God forbid).

BJ