international lab coat symbol (ongoing series)
by Sara Hendren on 06/12/09 at 8:56 pm
I’ve started a collaborative, public project designed as interventions in medical office waiting rooms, and I’m looking for partners.
I’ve made these postcard drawings of lab coats, and I’d like collaborators to place a card in one of the magazines that sit in waiting rooms, leaving them for the next prospective patient.
The dynamics of what happens at the doctor, after all, are heavily mediated by Who’s Wearing the White Coat. So I thought it’d be interesting to think about the coat, medical authority, and what exactly it is we’re waiting for while at the doctor.
Kristofer has been my first intervening accomplice—at his doctor’s office in Brooklyn:
If you want to participate (just promise you’ll document!)—send me an email: sara at sarahendren dot com.
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Sandra
Dec 20th, 2009
would you please send some my way?
Sandra
Dec 20th, 2009
Also, babe – I’m sending this all to becky – don’t know if you know of her work on the decision aids in the medical setting but I think you two should talk! Much about the white coat and finding ways to help patients make informed decisions.
Jim Buck
Dec 21st, 2009
I believe Godot is the correct answer. :)
Brian Glenney
Dec 29th, 2009
Scientists wear lab coats as well. Is there a way to distinguish MDs from PhDs? What if you added a stethoscope hanging out of a breast pocket to signify the MD’s “invasive” aspect. Or a syringe.
Should we “Moo” this? Or will each card be hand drawn?
Sara Hendren
Dec 29th, 2009
Funny, that other Brian (Mr Funck) suggested the stethoscope too. Thought the plain coat too generic, not pointed enough.
Thus far I like the idea of a hand-drawn version, if only because it makes it a little one-off ‘gift’ to the finder. But I could be persuaded to do a mass printing.