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Basically yes. You assume that every doctor may be infected with something. When a doctor is treating a patient, they wear a mask to reduce the risk of diseas

Basically yes. You assume that every doctor may be infected with something. When a doctor is treating a patient, they wear a mask to reduce the risk of disease spreading from the doctor to the patient. It is the same reasoning for why they wear gloves when doing things like operations -- so as not to infect the patient.

rasz 7y ago
Sure, and off shift they take off masks and use public transport going back to their families. Perfect logic.
- virgilp 7y ago
  They take their gloves off too. Surely you don't suggest the gloves are for protecting the doctor's hands?
  - Reelin 7y ago
    Actually, they protect both parties - the doctor from blood (or other fluid) born pathogens, and the patient from anything on the doctor's skin. Your point is well taken though, I just wanted to clarify for any future readers since misconceptions about PPE seem to abound.
- freepor 7y ago
  The other passengers on public transit (presumably) don’t have their abdominal cavities opened up 12 inches in front of the doctor’s face.
- pengstrom 7y ago
  Public spaces are not assumed to be sterile, so the normal precautions still apply.
ethbro 7y ago
Indeed, the veritable microcosm of non-human life all of us carry around on and inside of us. Also different levels of susceptibility. Breaching the skin alone (aka surgery) introduces risks most of us don't have to worry about in our daily lives. And that's to say nothing of immunocompromised patients (e.g. cancer or transplant). What's a happy, harmless staph colony on my skin can be very serious for someone else.
Reelin 7y ago
Just to clarify, it's slightly more complicated than this. Surgical masks (note the name) protect _others_ from you. (They are unlikely to do much to protect you from others, but I suppose it might be possible under fairly limited circumstances.) N95 and other test fit respirators protect _you_ from the environment in general. (I suppose they would also protect others from you, but that's really not their point.) Gloves protect both parties from each other. When working with highly contagious patients, medical providers wear additional PPE as well (face shields, goggles, suits, etc).

rasz 7y ago

Sure, and off shift they take off masks and use public transport going back to their families. Perfect logic.

virgilp 7y ago
They take their gloves off too. Surely you don't suggest the gloves are for protecting the doctor's hands?
- Reelin 7y ago
  Actually, they protect both parties - the doctor from blood (or other fluid) born pathogens, and the patient from anything on the doctor's skin. Your point is well taken though, I just wanted to clarify for any future readers since misconceptions about PPE seem to abound.
freepor 7y ago
The other passengers on public transit (presumably) don’t have their abdominal cavities opened up 12 inches in front of the doctor’s face.
pengstrom 7y ago
Public spaces are not assumed to be sterile, so the normal precautions still apply.

ethbro 7y ago

Indeed, the veritable microcosm of non-human life all of us carry around on and inside of us. Also different levels of susceptibility. Breaching the skin alone (aka surgery) introduces risks most of us don't have to worry about in our daily lives. And that's to say nothing of immunocompromised patients (e.g. cancer or transplant). What's a happy, harmless staph colony on my skin can be very serious for someone else.

Reelin 7y ago

Just to clarify, it's slightly more complicated than this. Surgical masks (note the name) protect _others_ from you. (They are unlikely to do much to protect you from others, but I suppose it might be possible under fairly limited circumstances.) N95 and other test fit respirators protect _you_ from the environment in general. (I suppose they would also protect others from you, but that's really not their point.) Gloves protect both parties from each other. When working with highly contagious patients, medical providers wear additional PPE as well (face shields, goggles, suits, etc).