Why do doctors wear white coats?

Question: Whites show stains more, so it can't be to "convey a sense of cleanliness." And if it's a way to keep down cross-contamination, then why don't all medical staff wear white? Also, white isn't the historical color of the medical profession.black is.

Answers:
It's really more about tradition, though the wearing of white coats by doctors is a tradition that's only been around for about the last century. A study that looked into this (available here: http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1293053&pageindex=1) found that the primary reason doctors wear white coats is because it makes them instantly recognizable as doctors. People see a white coat and they know the person they are looking at is an MD -- it's a status symbol. It also makes it easier for doctors to spot OTHER doctors in a hospital. The white also emphasizes the idea or concept of "cleanliness."

Other Answers:
I have no clue, but maybe it would be easier to see when it does get dirty, so that they can change into a clean coat.

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Maybe black would make them look like majordomos instead of doctors. Why not ask your Dr?
Perhaps white stands out..Who really cares about the stains?

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it is precisley because white shows stains more that they wear that color. when you see that clean white labcoat you know the doc isn't just coming directly from sawing off some horribly infected gangrenous leg. Others in the medical profession also wear colors that need to be kept clean so as not to show stains. A blood stain on those greenish colours that are worn by many nurses and orderlies would be pretty obvious. But they don't get to wear white because they are not as pure and perfect as doctors and they like to differentiate themselves visually in a heirarchy. Ask your doctor.

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So they can stand out from the common folk in the hospital. It's a status thing!

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