Question: Why do you put on white coats while treating a patient

Makobu Kimani answered on 18 May 2018:

The white coat is known as a lab coat. Its purpose is to protect the clothes of the healthcare provider from contamination. Remember in the clinic there are many infectious matter like blood, saliva, vomit etc. If the healthcare provider were to go unprotected the infectious material might get on their street (normal) clothes. The healthcare provider could then carry an infection home.
In many healthcare provision settings, the lab coat is gradually getting replaced by what we call scrubs. This are better than a lab coat as they cover the person better, often look more attractive as they can have multiple colours and best of all they are cleaned by the hospital laundrycservices so we (healthcare providers) have less washing to do!!