The coat does serve a couple of useful purposes. First, it let's people know they are seeing a *doctor* and not a nurse's aide. Secondly, it's many pockets let them carry the tools of their trade around, and Third, if they get bodily fluids on it, it's usually easier and cheaper to clean that their street clothes would be.

Keep the coats, ban the AMA.

On the first purpose do you remember Milgram and on the second I totally agree it's amazing how much detritus you can build up in one week in just one pocket! So onto the next point I really do go for as an indicator of biological buildup it's brilliant & by the end of the day you may ask how many Doctors do their own washing! All this aside it maybe a working theory if you could actually pour one chemical from one testube into another of same or other receptical without exceeding the 35 degree barrier that has been tailored into most lab coats since their inception usually causing the high incidents of serious abstract art on the lab coathooks or a strange smell with occaisional combustion in some rare incidents. That's my very first rant and most probably my last! Thanks to anyone who finds this vaguely entertaining & to Bondsman for posing the question please don't forget Non Sufficit Orbis !!

I remember MIlgram (not personally), but am confused about your post, are you saying this is a positive or negative effect...

Horrifying as it sounds to us now, at one time doctors would have been offended had anyone suggested they wash their black frock coats. The fact that they were covered with blood and pus simply proved that they were doctors. Doctors wore the filth of their trade as a badge of honor.

Bondsman - I think all docs would concur with your last statement. Now to let our meddler-in-chief know he's been talking to an empty shell....