Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Images We Conjure When We Hear The Term Medical Lab Coats

By Neene Baker


The field of medicine is one of the most honored and romanticized fields of science and professions in the planet.You can even prove that by the number of time you hear kids answering that they want to be a doctor when they grow up when you ask them of their dreams of the future.

And this is not just some image thing.

The truth is, doctors are heralded with such respect because of the effort you have to become one and the honorable work that a doctor has to do.Being a doctor is romanticized because the main function of an MD is to save lives.Add to that the fact that the path to becoming a doctor is an arduous one that entails long and in depth study of the many facets of human life, and you slowly understand why we have such a high regard for doctors and other medical personnel.This, in itself, elevates his stature in society and gives him a certain kind of power over society.And this is evident in the way that we react when we see medical lab coats, even unworn ones, as these evoke powerful emotions and images within us that maybe linked to a time that we or a loved one received outstanding care from a medical personnel.So these white coats become symbols in themselves.

The images that we conjure up when we see instruments and clothing that we associate with medicine are powerful enough that television and movies do not even need to create overly elaborate costumes or sets to suggest that a character is a doctor.TV or movie doctors only need a stethoscope and white lab coats to cement their character.There is a real power to that outfit that resonates from the profession that it is most often connected to.We are more respectful of doctors than we are of our mechanic not because one has studied harder, but because one has power over our lives while the one only has power over our vehicles.

But we do not mean to put doctors on pedestals.Doctors also have a responsibility and accountability to the general public to perform their duties well.We pay premium prices for their services because of the sensitive nature of it, but in turn, we expect them to uphold the oath that they took upon becoming doctors to put life first in their priorities.So encourage your kid to become one.He just might be the bearer of change.




About the Author:



No comments: