Surgical dress code - according to Sir Lancelot Spratt
Luke Cascarini turns to the greatest surgeon of them all for some (spoof) sartorial advice
As I struggle up the long and laborious slopes of a surgical career, my fingers gripping the fragile ledge of registrardom, I've been reflecting on what makes the difference between a graceful ascent and crawling over broken glass. Admiring my frayed Marks and Spencers' cuffs and polyester tie, I've been wondering whether a bit more attention to sartorial detail could have made a difference. So, for advice on dress code I have turned to the greatest surgeon of them all--Sir Lancelot Spratt. He may be fictional and old fashioned, but his wise words are real enough and contemporary enough to remain as gold dust for the ambitious modern doctor.
"The most important rule in surgery is 'show you know your place.' Although imitation is the greatest form of flattery it is very poor form for you to dress like a consultant until you actually are one.
Student
"Getting through a surgical firm as a student is all about survival. To do this you must avoid drawing attention to yourself in any way; if your consultant comments on your attire then you have made a major gaffe. You should look clean and smart but not flashy or rich. This means buying your clothes from a department store, and not having too many. You need to show that you have the ability to keep yourself and your clothes clean but you mustn't look as if you spend all your free time at the ironing board and therefore don't know how to go out and have a good time. After all, we had it harder and were poorer but knew how to enjoy ourselves. We still learnt more--and we learnt anatomy properly when it was still considered a subject worth teaching.
House officer
"As a house officer you need to give the impression that you are working hard but you mustn't seem as though you are not coping. After all, you can't possibly be working as hard as we did. I did a one in one with prospective cover, had to get up before I went to bed.
"Don't look too wealthy either. You earn far more than we did; our work was our life and we didn't expect to be well paid. A white coat is absolutely essential for all juniors. Best not to wear your university tie; if you're not from my old college I will only hold it against you.
Senior house officer
"The senior house officer years are a very important time for a young surgeon. You are taking membership exams, perhaps doing the occasional procedure, and your consultant might even know your name. It is critical that you make the right impression if you are to have any hope of getting some support. Try to resist the temptation to show your individuality and wealth by wearing handmade shirts from Rome with three collar buttons and pinning your name badge to the groin area--yes I have seen it done. Don't be in too much of a hurry to hang up the white coat either; there are still plenty of points to be gained by wearing it. Especially when you can provide that essential item from your pocket that the boss wants on the round and should have been in the house officer's coat.
"When you have passed the exams (make sure it's the right college), and not before, do buy yourself a couple of college ties. Silk, of course. But don't wear them straight away; modesty is the key."
Registrar
"When you become a registrar you may congratulate yourself by wearing a smart sports coat and, in many firms, you may hang up the white coat. No monograms yet and no bankers' shirts (coloured shirt with white collars and cuffs). You should have more ties at this stage. The college tie will now be occasional and should be superseded by other more elite and obscure surgical club ties, such as the Paediatric Resuscitation and Trauma Club, etc.
"You can wear a suit but it should be a plain, dark grey, two piece. Skirts must be below the knee. The worst thing you can do at this stage is to wear the consultant's uniform. Remember as you progress through the registrar years you are becoming a challenger to the alpha male or dominant female and you mustn't provoke any aggression. Parading yourself in front of the consultant in a pinstripe suit like a young peacock is bound to irritate.
Consultant
"The consultant surgeon's uniform is the bespoke pinstripe suit. However, with consultancy comes the right to revert back to any of the junior uniforms without it being misinterpreted as a show of humility. It is merely designed to keep you on your toes. For example, a savvy consultant may take a ward round on a Friday morning in slacks and open necked shirt in order to show that they will be off to the private sector for an operating list, which of course always runs so much smoother than here, none of that waiting around for the porter--get twice as much done."
Luke Cascarini, registrar in maxillofacial surgery, St George's Hospital, London
Email: lcascarini@hotmail.com
studentBMJ 2004;12:393-436 November ISSN 0966-6494
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CAREERS
surgical dress code - according to sir lancellot spratt
Luke Cascarini (November 2004)
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akhtar
(November 24, 2004)
Read this response
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CAREERS
surgical dress code - according to sir lancellot spratt
Luke Cascarini (November 2004)
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akhtar
(November 24, 2004)
medical 2nd yr, tehran iran pakhtoon_shr@yahoo.com
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dear sir,
it is nice that you are guiding the students of your kind guide lines that are your's whole life achievements. i agree with most of yours instructions & techniques but i really am not getting the real use of the sentence that [show you know your place]----i think this sentence shuld not be used for the dressing of a professional. a doctor i a person who is known best from his field & experience not from his dressing. undoughtly that dress is the identity of a person but not to that extent. a doctor must be well experience first & then his ethics and after that his dress is important. the nest thing is that all these things are important for attending a function of professionals or a confeerence or shortly being between his field fellows but in the society the dress depends on culture---that is too important.
with best wishes & hope that you will guide us more in this same era . hoping your guidlines in next articles.
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