Patients like a medic in a white coat, but often mistake female doctors for nurses

Patients see doctors in a white coat as professional and trustworthy but often mistake a female medic wearing one for a nurse or medical assistant, a study has found.

Female physicians are “unfairly judged based on appearance and attire, which affected patients’ perceptions of professionalism and competency”, according to a global review of the evidence around patients’ impressions of what doctors wear.

“Female physicians are often judged more on appearance than their male counterparts,” it said.

“The way female physicians dress significantly influences perceptions of competence and professionalism, highlighting the gendered expectations that patients hold.

“Even when male and female physicians wore identical attire, female physicians were still more likely to be misidentified as nurses or medical assistants.”

The researchers found that “gender-related perceptions of physician attire” existed across the 13 countries studied, including the US, India, Japan, China and Germany.

Such behaviour is so widespread that hospitals and other healthcare providers should try to reduce bias among patients and “foster equitable perceptions” of male and female medics, they add.

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Source: The Guardian, 12 August 2025