On White Coats and Other Matters

I recently gave a lecture-demonstration to a class of medical students taking clinical physiology (a preclinical course). I wished to present two patients with Graves's disease: in anticipation of the session I requested that white coats be worn by the students. When the class hour had ended, I received, from one of the students, a note that not only graded my performance but included the following comment: "I would like to see the evidence that wearing of white coats by students is of any benefit to patients — isn't your request more to satisfy your own ego?"The following is . . .