Tie

There is a hot debate on whether we should wear tie, long sleeves and watches in workplace. (Those interested please read the editorial of Lancet on 29 September 2007, and the explosion of correspondence afterwards.)

The story started from the release of the UK Department of Health's uniform and workwear guidance. People for this idea believed that these measures could reduce the risk of nosocomial infection, especially by MRSA. The others argued that the (published) evidence was weak, and we should not blindly follow political bodies. There is also evidence that ties, white coats and long-sleeves do facilitate trust on the doctor.

What should we expect from our students ? In the old days we insisted males ones to wear ties and formal (long sleeve) white coat when they came to the ward, and have a watch - with a second arm to count the pulse rate - when they came for exam. It seems that the old dictum is correct again: half of what we teach our student is wrong, but we don't know which half.

I try to convince myself that that doesn't matter. If they have considered the pros and cons and make a judgement, that's good enough. But the problem is: how could I tell ? A student appears in the ward without a tie: Has he considered both sides of the argument and decided that tie is risky ? Or is he just back from the tennis court ?

(Alas, that's probably why this student think that I look blank and keep talking to plants.)