Do Physicians judge patients based on what they wear? Designer Bags? Casual Clothing?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. The doctors might not admit it outright, but they do treat you differently based on what they assume about your socioeconomic status.

So, casual clothing is fine, but it better be from Patagonia, not Walmart.

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested in hearing from providers, but it seems natural to adjust your language based on the patient's knowledge and education. A friend who's the son of a doctor told the story of running into an ER with his child in the middle of the night wearing a cutoff tshirt. The doc started explaining extremely basic facts (on the level of "the lungs help you breathe") until the dad started talking, demonstrating that he knew more medicine than 99 percent of patients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think you receive different medical care based on what you are wearing?

Do you always dress a certain way for medical appointments?

When my father had cancer, he was definitely judged by the hospital. He was older (93) and black. They assumed he didn't have medical insurance so they were really horrible. I had to really show out! He had very good health insurance and I am a lawyer.

What was he wearing? That’s the topic.

[Anonymous]

Physicians are humans, so anything that applies to people in general will apply to them. If they are the type of person who makes judgements based on appearances outside of work, it will transfer to their work too.

[Anonymous]

From the moment an EMT or physician lays eyes on you, they are sizing you up in every way.

[Anonymous]

It’s difficult to make a blanket generalization about all physicians. Some probably will, some probably won’t. Depends on the setting too.

[Anonymous]

Provider. No, the recommendations for treatment do not vary based on your clothing or appearance.

Ability to pay might limit the options available though. eg your insurance does not cover psychotherapy and you cannot pay out of pocket. But it covers medications. So then the treatment for depression would lean towards antidepressant medications and not psychotherapy and not combined medications+psychotherapy (which is more effective than either alone).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a physician. He wouldn’t recognize a designer bag if it hit him in the face!

My husband too. Not a clue. He definitely isn’t judging people on the labels of their clothing.

I believe they take account into how you speak, whether you’re properly groomed, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think you receive different medical care based on what you are wearing?

Do you always dress a certain way for medical appointments?

When my father had cancer, he was definitely judged by the hospital. He was older (93) and black. They assumed he didn't have medical insurance so they were really horrible. I had to really show out! He had very good health insurance and I am a lawyer.

Having or not having medical insurance is the key issue. If you were a poor white person without insurance, you would know this. I’ve encountered incredibly hostile physicians who clearly resented me, and flat out told me I’d be forced to pay up out of pocket.

I absolutely encourage everyone to have a support person with them at all times when seeing a doctor, or especially when hospitalized. This goes for rich and poor, black and white. This is 1000x more critical for women having a hospitalized childbirth, again black or white, rich or poor. I hope you agree.

I agree that you will be treated less well if you don't have insurance. But the assumption that he didn't have insurance was because he is Black.

The poster didn't even say he was poor -- comparing him to poor white patients was your own bias (similar to the doctor's bias).

Your personal bias doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have an advocate with you to speak up for you to ensure the best possible treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think you receive different medical care based on what you are wearing?

Do you always dress a certain way for medical appointments?

When my father had cancer, he was definitely judged by the hospital. He was older (93) and black. They assumed he didn't have medical insurance so they were really horrible. I had to really show out! He had very good health insurance and I am a lawyer.

Having or not having medical insurance is the key issue. If you were a poor white person without insurance, you would know this. I’ve encountered incredibly hostile physicians who clearly resented me, and flat out told me I’d be forced to pay up out of pocket.

I absolutely encourage everyone to have a support person with them at all times when seeing a doctor, or especially when hospitalized. This goes for rich and poor, black and white. This is 1000x more critical for women having a hospitalized childbirth, again black or white, rich or poor. I hope you agree.

[Anonymous]

My son is an ob/gyn and he would only notice a purse if it's the same one that one of his sisters has (maybe), and since he grew up in NYC probably assumes all logo purses are fakes.

I think he judges people who don't take medical advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think you receive different medical care based on what you are wearing?

Do you always dress a certain way for medical appointments?

When my father had cancer, he was definitely judged by the hospital. He was older (93) and black. They assumed he didn't have medical insurance so they were really horrible. I had to really show out! He had very good health insurance and I am a lawyer.

Maybe being a lawyer is why they treated him that way, did you tell the people working at the hospital you were a lawyer too?

[Anonymous]

i dress depending on the doctor i got visit, if i am having my knee looked at, i wear gym attire, if I am going to a heart doctor I wear a button down shirt, if i know i am getting blood drawn i wear a short sleeve t shirt

judge away

[Anonymous]

As a female doctor, I don't pay much attention to the designer status of clothing worn or bag toted. I would note if they were neatly dressed and groomed or disheveled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Physicians are humans, so anything that applies to people in general will apply to them. If they are the type of person who makes judgements based on appearances outside of work, it will transfer to their work too.

This.