Laboratory coats worn by doctors and other medical personnel are donned to establish a professional attire within the medical atmosphere. It is symbolic in that one who wears the coat is bestowed with education and  training to work within the medical profession. The coat or jacket has been worn for approximately 100 years and has most recently come under scrutiny for the germs it carries and transfers from patient to patient.

A debate has arisen, with regard to the elimination of of laboratory coats or jackets all together to prevent the spreading of germs. In doing this one may ask the question of what may become of the medical uniform or scrub attire that is also worn by medical personnel with germs also being transfered from patient to patient?

The stethescope used by medical professionals is not only an important and traditional device used in examination of care to a patient, but it is used from person to person without it being sterilized or wiped clean with a sterile solution after each use. The  stethescope has not been affected under the same scrutiny with regards to the spreading of germs as the lab coat has in recent times.

Germs and the transmission of bacteria including microbes will spread as it is inherent within the clothes we wear and objects that are touched  without sterilization. A lab coat just protects the clothes from accidents although germs continue to exist.

To prevent bacteria, viruses and other harmful enzymes from spreading and evenutal contamination stethescopes and other medical apparatus including exam tables, cabinets ect. should be made of germ resistant materials ie.(chemical compounds of titanium dioxide and silver nano particles). These materials eliminate the bacteria mutation of harmful enzymes by neutralizing microbes and proteins by deactivation. This  type of germ resistant compound should also be included within clothing fibers of medical uniforms worn by medical professionals.