Medical Elites, Oaths, & Uniforms

Question 1

Why protection against the unqaulified?

Answer 1

• overcrowding in the medical market => competition => decreased prestige and money
• feared harm from unqualified practitioners
• medical education as an investment

Question 2

how does medicine regulate itself?

Answer 2

restricted entry (consider gender/race implications)
controlled education
maintained list of registered, qualified practitioners
professional activity regulated by colleagues

Question 3

social and cultural restrictions

Answer 3

informal restrictions include how you dress/communicate, knowledge of the system
formal restrictions include marks, volunteer opportunities

Question 4

restricted entry for women

Answer 4

denied entry to prestigious schools. First in 1889, medical schools in London post WWI. Harvard was one of the last to desegregate in 1977.

Question 5

restricted entry for black students

Answer 5

in 1860s, only in 9 US schools admitted black students. Established their own schools and clinics such as Howard University in 1868, Moharry University. Denied internships and licenses after graduated, during 1950s/60s civil rights movement, these issues were taken to court

Question 6

restricted entry for jews

Answer 6

1930s-1960s. 1932: U of Manitoba drastically reduced numbers of Jewish students accepted. 1934 Montreal Strike against Jewish interns. 1959 U of Toronto reported that Jewish students were often rejected.

Question 7

why uniforms

Answer 7

originally to indicate cleanliness
also to show professionalism
visual way to distinguish employees (nurse vs doctors; doctors long coat vs. student short coat)
physicians white coat since 19th C was to make them look like scientists

Question 8

white coat ceremonies

Answer 8

first practiced in 1990s in America and Europe. Perceived as tradition but actually kind of new. When technology/internet-diffused knowledge threatened doctoral prestige. Supposed to solidify professional identity, instill goodwill in participants, encourage ethical responsibility. Also displays student mentorship, helps students cross the temporal and physical boundary from before to now

Question 9

Nursing Uniforms

Answer 9

moved from relgious to fancy dress to simple dress to scrubs