A doctor with extensive "body art"

Homelander · 02-12-2019 07:59AM

Nice post from a fellow doctor on that site:

As a now slightly rotund middle aged GP, looking at my age matched somewhat "well rounded" peers with comb-overs, and teeth that are getting a little long - I do wonder just what does actually produce confidence in our clients?

Personally I have always been too scared to get inked (pain averse), but do wear bright socks and ties (obviously with a nicely ironed crisp white shirt!).

I suspect Dr Gray, may well be more relatable to a larger group of patients than we care to admit, and more likely to garner the trust of 36% of people between the age of 18 and 29 (US figures) and 35% of those between 30 and 39 years (UK figures) who have tattoos, than a middle aged man with silly socks.

Children under 18 have lived in a world where tattoos are commonplace on people who are not at all scary, and are less likely to be affronted than the "oldies"

Good on her I say. She is batting up hill and breaking down barriers.

If she is competent, which she obviously is, she deserves to do well.

PsychoPete · 02-12-2019 08:14AM

After waiting in a&e for 8 hours I'd take any sort of doctor

One eyed Jack · 02-12-2019 08:57AM

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

Not my cup of tea at all, but wouldn't bother me being treated by someone with all the tattoos or piercings.

Piercings might fall foul of uniform policy though in hospitals going on in her career. I know nursing staff aren't permitted to have piercings other than ear lobe, in my local hospital, I'd presume doctors would have to abide by the same policy.

But might be different where she works, as long as she listens to what nurses have to say, I'm sure she'll be fine, a tv doctor career awaits.

I suspect she wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near an MRI machine anyway. Look what happened in House with a bullet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kA3t6JU-9w

looksee · 02-12-2019 09:14AM

I'd be more wary of a doctor wearing a formal suit and (especially) a bow tie. The bow tie is a great marker of rudeness and lack of empathy.

Johnny Sausage · 02-12-2019 09:15AM

galtsdrift wrote: »

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/just-because-i-m-colourful-doesn-t-mean-i-m-not-co

How would you honestly feel if you were in A&E or some other hospital deptment and the doctor come in with extensive visable tattoos and body piercings

i would be supremely offended and outraged whilst starting threads on boards about it

.red. · 02-12-2019 09:18AM

If I woke up after surgery and saw that doctor with her tattoos and pink and blue hair looking down at me I'd probably burst into tears thinking I'd died and gone to heaven.
What a belter.

Beechwoodspark · 02-12-2019 09:25AM

galtsdrift wrote: »

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/just-because-i-m-colourful-doesn-t-mean-i-m-not-co

How would you honestly feel if you were in A&E or some other hospital deptment and the doctor come in with extensive visable tattoos and body piercings

I’d run a mile and report to all the relevant authorities to be honest

Aglomerado · 02-12-2019 09:32AM

As long as the tattoo doesn't say "Live, Laugh, Love" or "Shaniqua 4eva" I'm comfortable being treated by them.

Always Tired · 02-12-2019 09:39AM

It seems people think that tattoos indicate not only a propensity to make bad decisions or be unintelligent, but that doctors must be of extraordinary intelligence to be effective. None of which is true.

A doctor's knowledge is all down to their training and experience. They are generally above average intelligence but not necessarily geniuses. They need to be dedicated to complete the training more than anything else. And most are dedicated because they are ambitious and want the money and prestige.

Furthermore, their decisions about their physical appearance, body art, etc has no bearing on how they make decisions in other areas, or how they will perform professionally when treating patients. We have plenty of obese doctors and being obese is actually dangerous to your health.

If a doctor is making a decision that is physically unhealthy that should be more of a concern. Yet also plenty of doctors and nurses smoke too, and many are also alcoholics. As are many solicitors, accountants, etc.

That doesn't mean they can't be good at their jobs. A lot of people do things in their personal life that might seem strange or questionable but still are brilliant at their calling. Intelligent people become bored easily, that's why you see so many who seek thrills and excitement in various ways, gambling, booze, drugs, fast cars and such. Tattoos are a pretty tame interest to follow all things considered.

Saying a tattoo would put you off someone being your doc is like saying that you would be put off if they liked a certain type of music. It's just something they like.

If my doctor had tats I would just wait to listen to them speak, it would quickly become apparent if they were clever or not. One of the docs at the clinic I used to go to had no visible tattoos and he was useless.

friendlyfun · 02-12-2019 09:48AM

I wouldn't care as long as they're able to their jobs effectively.

sbsquarepants · 02-12-2019 10:04AM

I think her appearance is far less important than her ability.

That being said - i think she looks great anyway!

eviltwin · 02-12-2019 10:06AM

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest just as it wouldn't bother me if the dentist, postman, shop assistant or my kids teacher looked like that.

One eyed Jack · 02-12-2019 10:12AM

Always Tired wrote: »

It seems people think that tattoos indicate not only a propensity to make bad decisions or be unintelligent, but that doctors must be of extraordinary intelligence to be effective. None of which is true.

Generally speaking, it is.

Always Tired wrote: »

Intelligent people become bored easily, that's why you see so many who seek thrills and excitement in various ways, gambling, booze, drugs, fast cars and such. Tattoos are a pretty tame interest to follow all things considered.

People with short attention spans bore easily, it has nothing to do with intelligence or lack thereof. By your own standards one cannot determine anything about a person from their tattoos, so I don’t see why you consider tattoos exciting or thrill seeking.

I disagree though that we can’t determine anything from a persons tattoos, and the girl we’re talking about in this particular case has obviously gone to a lot of effort and expense for her appearance. To say she shouldn’t be or can’t be judged for her appearance is just silly. Of course we form impressions of people’s competency based upon their appearance, it’s not as though she’s rocking one colour knuckle and neck tattoos or a cheap pair of arse antlers! :pac:

Kimbot · 02-12-2019 10:34AM

If i ended up in A&E with a broken limb, I couldnt give a toss if the Dr had tattoos, piercings or anything else, as long as they done their job and fixed my limb I'd be happy. They are people at the end of the day.

blueshade · 02-12-2019 10:39AM

The tattoos and piercings wouldn't bother me but the silly hair dye job at her age might make me question her judgment. In all seriousness, I don't think it would be much of an issue to anyone under 60 but I think a lot of older people might not feel comfortable with it. When all the tattoos and piercings first took off 15 or so years ago employers wouldn't hire anyone with visible tattoos and you had to remove piercings before your shift started, I'm talking about customer facing roles and multinational employers. Then a few years ago the corporate suits realised that the Millennials, i.e. the people who look like this, are spending more money than their parents and grandparents so they started actively recruiting people with tattoos and piercings. All said and done, if she's good at her job it doesn't matter. But also the feelings of patients should come first not her wanting to express her individuality.

suicide_circus · 02-12-2019 10:42AM

would bother me in the slightest, might relax me if anything. it might upset old people though

Wanderer78 · 02-12-2019 10:44AM

suicide_circus wrote: »

would bother me in the slightest, might relax me if anything. it might upset old people though

might relax them to though, you wouldnt know, unless you asked them all

CrankyHaus · 02-12-2019 10:46AM

Doctor's responsibilities don't end at swinging a scalpel. They have to deliver momentous news, such as how long you have to live or explaining your death to your distraught family members.

A certain gravitas is required and in my opinion this is reduced by extensive attention grabbing sleeve tattoos, facial piercings and hair dyed to unnatural colours.

It's like your undertaker : sure a team of men in hot-rocked tracksuits, Nike air max and baseball caps can do the physical parts of the job just as well but it would make most people feel that the funeral of their loved ones was a little undignified.

Sardonicat · 02-12-2019 10:46AM

looksee wrote: »

I'd be more wary of a doctor wearing a formal suit and (especially) a bow tie. The bow tie is a great marker of rudeness and lack of empathy.

Usually just means he's a paediatrician.

Plumbthedepths · 02-12-2019 10:48AM

Their competency is all that matters, appearance is irrelevant.

suicide_circus · 02-12-2019 10:49AM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

might relax them to though, you wouldnt know, unless you asked them all

indeed. thats why i used the qualifier "might"

Wanderer78 · 02-12-2019 10:49AM

CrankyHaus wrote: »

It's like your undertaker : sure a team of men in hot-rocked tracksuits, Nike air max and baseball caps can do the physical parts of the job just as well but it would make most people feel that the funeral of their loved ones was a little undignified.

could be a market there!

Foweva Awone · 02-12-2019 10:49AM

It wouldn't bother me.

I work in accountancy and I have some very large colourful tattoos, I always wear a high neck and long sleeves and opaque tights to cover them. I just feel more comfortable in the office that way, as far as I know there's no formal rule where I work about tattoos, but I'd rather just keep them covered.

It's not as easy to do that in a medical environment, where for example long sleeves could be an infection hazard. Seems unfair that this should mean medical professionals can't get their arms tattooed at all.

Actually what strikes me as slightly unprofessional in those photos is the makeup, I think she'd look much more professional with toned-down neutral shades. But it's not going to affect her job performance, so hey, each to their own.

nthclare · 02-12-2019 10:50AM

I'd probably prefer a doctor like that rather than some goof ball who lacks any interpersonal skills, talking down to you and has his little hareem of students taking notes,as if you're a rose bush covered in blackspot and fungus and he's telling them...

Here we have a rose which is infected with Diclocarpon rosae, what does it need ?

Amputation, systemic fungicide...

The fungicides tebuconazole (Provanto Fungus Fighter Concentrate), tebuconazole with trifloxystrobin (Provanto Fungus Fighter Plus, Toprose Fungus Control & Protect), and triticonazole (Scotts Fungus Clear Ultra and Scotts Fungus Clear Ultra Gun) are labelled for the control of rose black spot.

Now we're onto Jack, he's....

krissovo · 02-12-2019 10:54AM

My daughter was treated in the Mallow Urgent Care Centre a year or two ago by a pediatric doctor not far off what that doctor looked like.

She had Pink hair and some visible tattoos and a couple of face piercings, her nose had stud(s) and the ears were had a few in not "normal" places from what I recall. It did not even acur to me until this thread that this could be anything wrong.

Amazing Doctor, really bubbly personality and put my daughter at ease almost straight away. She even showed her a unicorn tattoo and spoke about disney princesses when she saw my daughter get stressed about being examined.

I am all for diversity in any workplace, let people be themselves and they will produce the best work.

Mules · 02-12-2019 10:57AM

It wouldn't bother me but I'd be surprised if her employers knew she had so many tattoos before she was hired.

banie01 · 02-12-2019 11:01AM

Does body art lessen the value of a person's training or qualifications?

Does it make the wearer a poorer doctor?
Does it cast doubt on a patient's trust in their decision making?
Or does it it strengthen it? As they can clearly live with the consequences?

There is a degree of vocation and commitment in choosing a medical career that is beyond my own personality.
But I would not let body art make a decision for me whilst I was awaiting treatment in A+E.

BuboBubo · 02-12-2019 11:01AM

She's beautiful. Probably an excellent doctor too.

iamwhoiam · 02-12-2019 11:04AM

I absolutely would have no problem with this doctor as long as she knew her stuff, was kind and supportive and knew how to communicate in a way I understood
I would much rather be seen by someone who can communicate clearly than be seen by a suited , non tattood doctor who does not look at you, mutters something illegible and dismisses you with very little information.I experienced this lately and had to ask him to speak clearly and then ask the nurse what he had said and if there was any follow up needed etc

banie01 · 02-12-2019 11:04AM

CrankyHaus wrote: »

It's like your undertaker : sure a team of men in hot-rocked tracksuits, Nike air max and baseball caps can do the physical parts of the job just as well but it would make most people feel that the funeral of their loved ones was a little undignified.

There is most certainly a large cohort in parts of Ireland that would love that as an option!
And that's without even considering ethnic minorities

A doctor with extensive "body art"

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