Physicians' dress code under review in Britain

It's something that's probably decades overdue, but doctors in England will soon have those neckties, wristwatches, long sleeves and even those long white coats banished from the workplace.

You see, all that garb can make deadly infections spread all over a hospital, since a normal doctor may visit several patients and other areas each day (or each hour). All those items are potential carriers of disease.

This move should be a requirement for any modern hospital, yes? It's odd to think that a doctor be outfitted like a clean-room computer technician, but that is exactly what is needed. Let's hope hospitals in the U.S. get with this soon.