But white jackets are not always standard. If you have seen several time dramas set in19th century or earlier, you may think of a family doctor in a black suit. According to Medellita, black is the most meaningful both symbolically and literally. Black clothing is considered to be formal and serious, so it conforms to the general tone of medical visits. Dark clothes are also easier to hide spots and stains than light clothes.
However, in the late19th century, doctors and scientists began to realize the importance of keeping facilities as clean as possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and the spread of infectious diseases. White means clean, and hospitals began to transition to white sheets and white clothes to reflect their crusade against bacteria.
As Dr. Mark S. Hochberg explained in an article published in the Journal of Ethics of the American Medical Association in 2007, white also represents other things: truth and transparency. The word frankness, which means "frankness" and "getting rid of psychological prejudice", comes from the Latin verb candere and is translated as "white and shining".
Doctors' clothes change from black to white very quickly, as evidenced by two paintings by American artist Thomas Agins. In his 1875 work "Gross Clinic", Dr. Samuel Gross and his colleagues are all wearing black suits and performing surgery on a man's leg. Less than 15 years later, Agins painted the agnew Clinic, depicting a group of different doctors-this time, wearing white shirts-operating on another patient.
Although white coats help doctors stand out in crowded hospitals, it is well known that white coats will have a negative impact on patients. "White coat syndrome" or "white coat hypertension" describes the increase in blood pressure experienced by some people when they walk into a doctor's office or other clinical environment. Some doctors, especially pediatricians, sometimes skip coats to help patients relax.