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| Photo: Patan Academy of Health Sciences 3rd Batch students taking oath at white coat ceremony |
For a moment, can you just close your
eyes & try to visualize an image of doctor: majority of chances is that
your virtual doctor will be standing in front of you in a neat WHITE COAT with smiley face. The point that
I am trying to mention here is, a long white coat with loose fitting style, big buttons, big pockets and flat neck collar & an ID card tagged at chest has become an unique identity
of physicians, though it’s not just their trademark. White coat has it’s own
stories and values. So
many peoples in the universe somewhere sometimes in some phase of life
wants to own it but very few succeeds. I was lucky enough to make my dream come
true when I was selected for medical education. I still remember the day, for the
first time in life, I was wearing a white coat during white coat ceremony at PAHS.
Since that very first moment of intimacy, I have gathered so many experiences of
life wearing that coat: both memorable & unpleasant ones. During those
initial days of my medical school we were allowed to go to hospital on white
coat just a day on a week for an hour : to have history taking practice. While being at ward on coat, I always wished that
someone to whom I know to come & notice me. It was matter of pride for
me. But none of such incidence happened. That was the time we used to take photo on white coat and post it on social sites like facebook and feel wonderful to get so many
likes there. Now, I feel like we didn’t do justice with it at that time.
Probably I was not mature enough to understand White Coat. It was not that type of coat people wear to show their personality, their status. The coat without tie, the coat which is not said unfitting even if long up to knee & very big like sac, the one that you won't be keeping inside your drawer for the occasion of your friend's marriage. White coat itself has great value much more than just a cloth. It
is a sign of professionalism. It symbolizes the one who bears responsibility to
listen people’s problems, responsibility to address them in professional
way. It may be surprising that prior to 19th century, doctors didn't use to wear white coat rather they used to have black one. Then why colour inversion at that time? It has own story found in different websites but in my thinking, Probably because Whiteness of the coat is symbol of holiness/pureness, symbol of care,
symbol of credibility. But there is no greatness of wearing white coat only. Even a child can have it if asked in tailor to have so. But what is the difference? The difference lies in not letting to have dark spots on it. Do I mean dark spots that our commercial wheel or surf excels claim to clean? That might be the one reason. I have seen few white coats in my hospital hanged without any hesitation which were so dirty that its sleeve & neck collar was almost dark (moving inhabitant of micororganisms). Those are very easy to wash. But actually what I am trying highlight here is that spot which may hurt people's feelings, which may not fulfill patient's expectations, which will ruin doctor's credibility and respect. The day you wear white coat is the day you should start carrying huge huge responsibility for the patients and for the society. Mind it, it's not only that much lucrative as it seems. You are the one to whom people don't want to meet as far as possible. You won't have fans like heroes, you won't have lots of money if you are sincere server, even one in your locality might not know you. But feel proud that you are that blessed one to whom even stranger do trust and share their secretes, share sorrows and share feelings. Feel proud that you are that magic train in which people climb up with sufferings and climb down with luggage of happiness. So try to understand the value of profession, value of that coat. But not always a doctor prefer to wear it & sometimes may be logical (though not always). For example: pediatric populations may start to cry at a moment you meet them if you are in white coat , psychiatric patients may have reluctance to talk with the one in white coat, in case of white coat hypertension
etc. But in my hospital, I have
noticed most of the senior doctors don’t wear it & all of them are not pediatricians or psychiatrists. Then why? Reasons are yet to be explored. So, the one in my hospital
without white coat is either a patient or a senior consultant.
Thus, by now, as a future physician
white coat has become part of my life. Everyday along with some books, copy
& pen I do carry white coat in my bag to hospital. I just celebrated 3rd anniversary
of my relationship with it. Since then, it has been torn & repaired, has
become dirty & washed, in the same way as my hopes, thoughts & identity. These sleepless nights, these bulky books are all dedicated to the
“White Coat” who is going to be a silent bridge between me and my responsibility to those in suffering. Still it's a long way to go when I will be feeling myself matched enough with that coat which is still far above my standard...
#Thank You...
