Would it bother you if your doctor was wearing shoes like these?

[BloodyMaud]

I love them, but can't really justify them unless I wear them for work, at least sometimes. They have loads of styles - some are definitely innappropriate but wondered if some would be ok. Rest of outfit is usually colourful but fairly smart/ conservative.

No problem if you were dressed as a clown so long as I got an appointment!

I couldn't give a flying shite what shoes the doctor wears as long as they're competent at their job

It would bother me. A little on my own account, but mainly because I’d be thinking of someone like my parents or grandparents’ generation. They get dressed up to go to the doctor or into hospital. Sunday suits, shoes polished etc. For them to find cartoon child shoes staring back at them would confuse and unnerve them at a stressful time. Unless you run an appointment-only service with a specific client demographic and aren’t delivering bad news, then maybe. Otherwise, you don’t know what member of the public is going to turn up to see you and how serious their healthcare needs are. It could be upsetting and off-putting to some of your patients, so why would you?

I also think there’s a strong human tendency to fixate on smaller problems when faced with a giant one. So if someone gets awful news from you, all the fear and anxiety and worry of that might get transferred on to the image you are presenting and how you were inappropriately dressed for the severity of the situation.

I am as close to certain as I can be that this thread of “oh no, I’d never judge a person by appearance; in fact I prefer my doctors to dress like comic strip characters” is not an accurate reflection of the general population. It’s a specific demographic and, I’d guess, a “shy Tory” phenomenon.

If it was in theatre then i would be concerned, but i like them and many DRs i work with wear similar.

I've probably never noticed my doctors shoes but tbh these look like children's shoes and I'd find it ridiculous if someone way examining me/telling me bad news in toddler shoes.

I love them.

And I would find a mr men tie equally as ridiculous tbh

OP, it’s part of your job to project a reassuringly professional persona, with suitable gravitas, to enable your patients to have confidence in you and trust you with their health, their lives and their most intimate medical details.
Do you really think toddler shoes help to achieve that?
I’m a recently retired doctor, having served 36 years in NHS hospitals, and I would never have worn something so frivolous when dealing with patients.

I think they are hideous, but I don't need my doctor to have taste or style - I need them to be good at their job.

It would suggest to me like you had some personality. Go for it!

Also even if you weren't a doctor they're hideous. Really really minging.

I think my best mate who is 25 and has been told she has high rate cancerous cells after her first ever smear test and may never have children would be offended if someone thought that they could wear these shoes while telling her - they're mocking and weird.

Have realised I may be overly sensitive right now

"with suitable gravitas"

I don't need my doctors to have gravitas. I need them to be able to do their job.

Most of those with gravitas are difficult to speak to, especially around mh issues.

I wouldn’t judge you as a doctor but I would assume you were rather immature, attention seeking and silly. Why not go the whole hog and get a revolving bow tie?

No I'm with you Aqua. Being ill isn't lighthearted and perky. It's serious and shit. A doctor wearing those shoes whilst discussing symptoms and (hopefully) treatments would feel wrong and like they weren't taking their patients seriously.

And I'd feel exactly the same about a novelty tie on a male gp. It's unprofessional.

I really couldn't care less what a doctor wears. I am more concerned that they deal with me professionally, are knowledgable, and have a good bedside manner. And treat me like an equal who is able to make considered decisions about my own care and treatment, not like I am a completely idiot, who is wasting their time.

Clothes are irrelevant, there are many other things that are much more important!

Until you asked I'd never thought about doctors' shoes. I've seen many many doctors and I couldn't tell you what any of them were wearing on their feet or whether they were in fact barefoot. I always maintain eye contact with doctors. I could give you a summary of what I think the female partner at the GP's surgery has had done to her face, but her shoes? Haven't a clue.

I'd you are a paediatrician or work with children then they might be ok as a talking point. Otherwise I would say please don't wear them - I would think that a dr who wore those to work wasn't taking her role seriously.

Absolutely agree with Babdoc. I’m not interested in my doctor’s “personality” or wacky sense of fun unless I’m meeting them in a social setting, in which case they’re just another person wearing stupid shoes.
I would be deeply suspicious of any doctor who thought the workplace was an appropriate place to express their personality, actually, and imagined their patients might be remotely interested.
I’d probably question their maturity

Are you likely to give upsetting news or are let’s say an allergologist?

Is that even a word - allergologist?!

”Until you asked I'd never thought about doctors' shoes. I've seen many many doctors and I couldn't tell you what any of them were wearing on their feet or whether they were in fact barefoot”

That’s kind of the point. You don’t remember the Doctors’s shoes because they were entirely unremarkable and you didn’t allocate any head space to thinking about them. So other patients deserve the same experience too.

That’s kind of the point. You don’t remember the Doctors’s shoes because they were entirely unremarkable and you didn’t allocate any head space to thinking about them. So other patients deserve the same experience too

Exactly this. Many patients at a GP surgery will be older and expect a doctor to dress more conservatively. Others are discussing difficult or embarrassing issues or will be very anxious. For most it’s not a fun experience and they are not particularly interested in the doctor’s sense of humour. They care about her clinical and interpersonal skills.

I think that posters on this thread are perhaps attending their Gp for routine issues with children or pregnancy check ups. These are more routine / happier and perhaps not typical of many GP/ patient interactions.