Science Illustrated

Why are doctors’ coats white?

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Originally, doctors often wore black clothes, but in the late 1800s, quacks and charlatans and their dubious elixirs and miracle cures made doctors change their 'uniform' to protect their reputation­s.

Doctors were aware that scientists were highly respected by other people, who watched them move about their labs wearing coats to protect themselves from acids, toxins and more. Doctors wore their coats in order to obtain the same credibilit­y. Lab coats were typically grey or beige, so doctors chose to wear white, to suggest purity, compassion, and serious focus. Today, visiting a doctor who isn't wearing a white coat might make you wonder if he's even a real doctor...

 ??  ?? Doctors wear white coats to signal purity, kindness, and seriousnes­s.
Doctors wear white coats to signal purity, kindness, and seriousnes­s.

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