Why Are Hospital Gowns Always So Awful?
Is asking patients to wear ugly, ill-fitting garments about maintaining an antiquated power dynamic? Wouldn’t it be better for patients’ mental health and healing if they felt good in what they wore? — Sam, Morristown, N.J.
Whoever had the audacity to label that drab garment typically worn by medical patients as a “gown” surely deserves recognition for their ironic sense of humor. The truth is, that shapeless piece of fabric that ties awkwardly in the back, often leaving one’s backside exposed, is, as you’ve aptly noted, one of the least appealing articles of clothing known to mankind. In fact, it’s so unfashionable that no one has ever claimed responsibility for its design. Should you delve deeper, the only name that surfaces is “Seymour Butts,” which, let’s be honest, is not a legitimate attribution.
Despite its dubious heritage, the patient gown has remained the default attire for individuals entering hospitals since at least the early 20th century, and only recently have we begun to see changes in this regard. The reasons for this inertia are multifaceted, encompassing issues of tradition, cost, and, as you astutely point out, the overarching medical power structure.
The patient gown (distinct from the surgical gowns that medical staff wear) was essentially crafted to provide patients with a semblance of physical privacy while simultaneously allowing healthcare professionals easy access for examinations and treatments. Additionally, it was designed to be easily removable during surgical procedures, even when patients were under anesthesia. This garment also functioned as a kind of equalizing uniform, promoting the idea that within the walls of a hospital, every individual has an equal right to receive care.
While this concept is commendable, the uniformity of the patient gown has also led to a dehumanizing effect; it effectively signals that one has transitioned from being a distinct individual to merely a “patient.” With its cumbersome tie closures that are often placed in the back—making them nearly impossible to reach—or an overwhelming number of dangling ties, the gown has consistently been a source of frustration for patients.
Nonetheless, when it comes to the myriad concerns hospitals face, the aesthetics of patient clothing have remained a low priority. Although patients have the option to bring their own pajamas during hospital stays, these personal garments are often ill-suited for accommodating medical devices such as IVs and ports. While there have been previous attempts to redesign the gown, including notable efforts by Cynthia Rowley in 1999 for Hackensack University Medical Center and Diane von Furstenberg in 2010 for Cleveland Clinic, it is only in recent years that more substantial efforts have been made to shift this paradigm.