Is That Really Necessary?

So me and the family are eating lunch at some Thai restaurant around the UIC area the other day. Specifically, we're around the west campus and this is where a lot of UIC's (and Rush's) health schools are located. As we sit down, I notice that one of the guys at the next table is wearing a white coat. Now, there are a few professions that wear white coats: butchers, lab techs, science researchers, pharmacists, PAs, doctors. But I had a pretty good idea of which group this guy belonged to. After a few ninja-like glances to avoid staring, I read his jacket stitching as "University of Illinois Medical Center." Yep, thought so. A pretentious doctor wearing his white coat around, just screaming for attention and wanting everyone to know who he is. Asshole.

The restauarant we were at is probably a 10-15 minute walk from his hospital. There is no reason for him to still be wearing his white coat. Maybe if you're heading home, fine. But not in a restaurant. And since his white coat was a long one, this means he was an attending (full) physician - not a med student (we get short white coats). Meaning, I know he's got an office, a locker, or some med student that can keep his lab coat when he leaves the hospital.

Aside from my personal abhorrence for these attention whores, there are a few semi-real reasons he shouldn't be wearing his white coat outside the hospital. For one, it was probably around ninety degrees outside. I know that you're already burning up under your shirt and tie. I'm pretty sure that throwing a lab coat over said apparel does not help the case. But also, the fact that the lab coat's been in the hospital should be reason enough to leave it behind. It's been around all sorts of sick people and whatnot. I don't want to eat lunch next to an article of clothing which has been in one of Chicago's academic and higher level hospitals. Hell, it is in the "Illinois Medical District," I imagine that some pretty nasty stuff passes through here.

When it comes down to it though, the guy's douchery (yes, it's a word) in wearing his white coat everywhere is what pissed me off the most. Oo, you're a doctor. Good job. Now stop advertising it to the world. What? You couldn't hear me over your self-admiration and general jackassery? That's too bad. The thing is I've already met a few people who are already full of themselves and are going to end up like this guy. Ah well. A couple bites of some chicken curry, and I'll forget about these folk.