From the
President
BRUCE A. SCOTT, MD
GLMS President | [email protected]
WHITE COAT
E
ach morning as I arrive at the office or
the hospital, I don my white coat as a
matter of habit. For over twenty years
I have done this, never having any thought
about the symbolism or the significance of
this act; that is until recently.
effect given to them by local physicians to
welcome them to our community and our
great profession.
The smiles and looks of pride were visible
on the students’ faces, and were mirrored
on the ebullient faces of their beaming
parents and friends. To the new class, the
white coat has a special meaning. It is an
acknowledgement of their intelligence and
which makes clear that wearing the white
coat brings not only honor but responsibility
and obligations. As I listened to the oath
I appreciated the awesome privilege and
responsibility each of us have in caring for
our fellow human beings. I encourage each
of you to read the oath and embrace the
concepts embodied.
As President of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, I was honored to be part of
a recent White Coat Ceremony. Doctor
In a world where the practice of medicine
Arnold Gold*, a pediatric neuhas become less personal, more
rologist, began the White Coat
technology driven and increasDeclaration of Geneva
Ceremony at Columbia College
ingly defined by non-physicians,
of Physicians and Surgeons in At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession, I my wish is that each day, when
1993. He felt students should solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity. each of us puts on the white coat
take the Hippocratic Oath (now
( if only metaphorically for some)
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due;
the Declaration of Geneva) and
we shall practice medicine the
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
be welcomed to the medical proway we envisioned it the day
fession upon entry into medical
we first wore it. Since we startThe health of my patient will be my first consideration;
school, not upon graduation.
ed medical school we now truly
I will respect the secrets which are confided in me;
The White Coat, the symbol of
appreciate both the privilege
our profession, would be given
and responsibility of caring for
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honor and the noble
to each student during a formal
our fellow human beings. Even
traditions of the medical profession;
rite of passage. In a few years, the
within the hustle of our ever
My colleagues will