Public Poll: Do you think a doctor should wear a tie?

[Caoineag]

I link ties with germs, read one too many studies on that issue. As to professional appearance, I couldn't care less as long as they are neat and nice (prefer well fitting clothese due to germs but that's the extent of my preference). Its not the doctor's clothes I care about but his or hers diagnostic skills and bedside manner.

[gamecock43]

Question: How long can germs lives outside of a body? I would assume that if a germ got onto a tie that was never cleaned...it could only live on that tie for 24 hrs or so before dying. right?

[Cassandra]

My family doctor always wears a tie. I don't really care either way as I find ties very annoying to wear (part of the uniform for work) and completely understand someone else not wanting to wear them.

Here's a silly question. If, when the doctor leans over, the tie touches the patient, can't he get a tie clip to keep the tie in place?

[Scanner]

I have done the tie clip but because of the bizarre maneuvers and positions I put my body into to perform manipulations, it often broke so I stopped.

You are all right though - the few patients I ran it by chaffed at the idea of me not being relaxed.

[Scanner]

Gamecock,

Certain germs can pretty much live forever outsie the body - some of them are well encapsulated to travel distances and time. Others die very quickly - most notable example I can think of is HIV. Once it is not within a suspended body fluid, it's toast.

[GREENBACK]

You could just wear a bowtie and maybe offer a cocktail to the patient. That would certainly relax me more with no concern for infection from the tie

[markusk]

I don't wear a tie or a white coat when I see patients in my office. I only wear a white coat (no tie) when I am doing hospital rounds.

Years ago I rememer a colleague who come to the hospital to do his rounds on the weekend but he was wearing a polor shirt and shorts. With the white coat on, he looked silly. He walked into one of his old/familiar patients and commented, "yeah, I'm not wearing pants." Got a good laugh out of the patient and the nurse.

Concerning germs, there was a recent study out of a Scandinavian Hospital. Seems this hopital broke all records since they had ZERO hopital related infections for the year (2006?). From what I remember about the article, every healthcare provider has a short sleeve uniform (like scrubs). Ties, lab coats, personal stethoscopes, etc are contraband. Stethoscopes and other equipment are patient/room specific and can not be taken out of the room to be used on another patient. Hand washing is manditory everytime entering and leaving a patient room.