What is a Hospital Gown?

As a lifelong naturist, I am more than comfortable with my naked body. Neither do I get fussed, fazed or embarrassed about any bodily function, clinical or investigative procedure. So as I have an upcoming colonoscopy my preference would be not to wear anything. I am sure that I don't have any 'man-bits' that the medical staff haven't seen many times before.

So what reasons can I give not to wear the gown?

My wife is an RN at the local hospital so we both understand medical necessity. Today she had outpatient surgery on her left ring finger to repair a tendon. When she was returned to outpatient recovery, her gown had been totally removed and just laid over her while she was being wheeled from surgery to recovery. Why was it medically necessary to remove her gown to repair an injured finger?

Hospital personnel are human beings first, professionals second.

Indeed, some are not really even professionals, but "assistants" of various sorts, who view (in American culture, at least) nudity as human beings,

with the natural interest which springs from our cultural habit of being constantly covered. So the innate biological/sexual feelings are aroused, even though they are suppressed outwardly.

As a person with nearly two dozen surgeries and far more office and technician exams, I have seen this time and time again. Whether being examined, or showering, or having urinary catheters inserted, or being used as a "display patient" for medical students, it has become obvious from facial expressions, excessively long periods of nudity, positioning, up-close viewing of "private areas" and the virtual certainty that complete nudity is the rule as soon as one is under anesthesia, all these and more demonstrate that medical personnel are not automatons who have nothing other than medical necessity in mind when requiring patients to be excessively or unnecessarily exposed to view.

Even such authorities as Menninger have observed that mentally, our interest in sex is much the same in old age as when young. The history of human (and animal) behavior makes our need to mentally pursue sexual interest virtually unshakable and unremitting. The average person thinks of sexual situations (involving nudity) more than a score of times daily.

"Assistance" while showering in hospitals, changing gowns, getting bed baths, being left fully exposed when the patient is thought not to have the ability to bring about repercussions -- all these and more make medical personnel no less sexual -- or interested in nudity -- than the rest of humankind.

Redmont is right. The hospital is all about the convenience of the personnel and not at all about the convenience of the patient. It's sad, since the patient is the one financing the entire circus, but so often hospitals will provide too little privacy, too little care and too non-sterile conditions, all because "it's the way it's done".

I was in a situation where, after an operation involving spinal anesthesia, a nurse wanted to give me a urethral catheter. For those that don't know what it is, it involves sliding a long tube through one's privates. I refused, and was totally enraged and scared, felt like someone was about to rape me and I was prepared to physically defend myself if need be. Half an hour later, I was able to pass urine normally, but later, I've learned that they prefer to mount Foley catheters because then there's less chance urine will spill. Lazy nurses!

Hospital gowns are cotton, paper or plastic pajamas you wear during your stay at the hospital. There are many different hospital gowns, like surgery gowns. A pajama, a surgery cap and a pair of plastic socks.

it boils down to its easier and more convenient for the providers therefore if it is a problem for you so what? While in general i find medical staff to be very considerate, when it comes to patient modesty they really don't care that much. they have this superior attitude that because it isn't a problem for them, it isn't a problem for you, that I find disgusting and insensitive.

Where can I purchase paper pajamas?

Redmont is more correct than incorrect. Certainly there are some practical preferences for hospital staff. These might be particularly beneficial for helping a patient who is unable to assist him or herself.

For other patients it is at least, in part, the practice of letting you know "you are in their territory" and they are in control . . . not the patient who is purchasing their services.

Hi redmont,

It sounds like you've had terrible experiences in the hospital. I've had some pretty tough ones when my son was hospitalized, but I'd have to disagree with your assessment that gowns are used to intimidate. In fact, the hospital encouraged me to place regular clothing on my son, since his stay was very long, and the staff (nurses and doctors alike), could not have been more accommodating.

There was some difficulty with normal things like PJs because of IVs. Once these are in, you can't quickly get a shirt or pants off, and he had numerous IVS going on arms and legs at different times. Sometimes I found the gowns easier to deal with because if they were soiled, they could be slipped off.

I realize you've got a good point and that some people have tremendously negative experiences in hospital settings. Although ours (4 hospitalizations thus far) have been terrifying because of fear of outcome, I have found so many people to be grateful to, and my experiences were mainly opposite of negative, where I fully participated in medical decisions regarding my child, was included in on discussions, and where both my child and myself were treated with incredible respect, compassion and care. There was no "Patients be damned." I don't doubt the validity of your experiences, but I don't believe they are universal.

Best to you though and thanks for commenting,

Tricia E-C

The only reason to force patients to wear a hospital gown is to intimidate, humiliate and degrade them and show them that the medical personnel are in charge. Otherwise why has not the "gown" changed in style or design in about 85 years? During this time for example the nurses' outfits have changed radically to accord them dignity and respect--but NOT so the patients. Velcro and plastic snaps have all been invented in the last 80 years so why have not these technologies been used to protect privacy and dignity? The answer is simple --the medical profession fights every day to intimidate and humiliate patients--that keeps the staff in charge--patients be damned.