<p>I want to get a simple cursive text tattoo on my inner wrist, and wanted to know if this would be an impediment to a successful medical career. Do people trust doctors with tattoos? Would this keep me from a job, or even a position in medical school?</p>
<p>Background:
I want to become a researcher and surgeon (hopefully MD/PhD), my undergraduate work is in mathematical neuroscience and engineering</p>
<p>The tattoo would be the first line of one of my favorite poems, Desiderata, and would read
" Go placidly amid
the noise and haste,
and remember what
peace there may be
in silence. "</p>
<p>The quote is personally meaningful, not violent or controversial in any way. It's taken from a poem which talks about attaining happiness and I wanted it in a place where I could read it when/if I get stressed or lose sight of what's really important, etc. As of now I have no tattoos, and am not a biker/hipster/emo type (no problem with those, just not me). I understand that tattoos are best kept hidden in a professional environment, but given the nature of this, could it be a problem?</p>
<p>Oh…please don’t mutilate your body.
Tattoos are for old sailors…
Better to publish your poems for the world to read…or place it in a beautiful framed poster in your future office. Best wishes in your studies and goals.</p>
<p>You can publish the poem in those transparent sheets that could look like a temporary tattoo, but not permanent, and wear it at the beach or special occasions with your friends.</p>
<p>No offense to greenery, but I see that view (that tattoos are for old sailors or military) as an old fashioned view that isn’t largely held by the current generation. IIRC, the popular stats are that more than 25% of people have a tattoo, and their popularity is increasing with the younger generation. With that is a decrease in the “stigma” of tattoos.</p>
<p>If it’s personally meaningful to you and you can deal with its permanence, go for it. I know a lot of med students at my school who have tattoos, some of them quite extensive. (and there are surely more that I don’t know about)
I would only recommend that you choose a spot that is easier to cover with a t-shirt or scrub top - maybe somewhere on the upper arm or really anywhere other than the lower arm. Inside of the wrist isn’t super visible, but its definitely best to have a tattoo that can be easily covered while in a professional environment.</p>
<p>The medical profession is largely a conservative one. People get this far by not rocking the boat. You will be judged by the tattoo, and it may affect your evaluations as you go forward if it’s in a particularly visible location. If it’s all the same, place it somewhere covered by a short sleeve shirt.</p>
<p>Icarus…I understand and thanks for being so gracious in disagreeing.
It is difficult for me to accept tattoos. I was raised listening to grandparents, parents and all uncles and aunts of how much they disliked tattoos and how they had a low impression of those that dear to have one. My kids heard me all their life describing tattoos as disgusting. I realize that time has changed…but still I cannot accept them.</p>
<p>Recently attended a graduation, I saw this gorgeous girl in the stands talking with other parents, she was wearing a beautiful summer dress, when she turned around she has that enormous turtle tattooed in her back. I almost fainted…while thinking of why in the world she has to damage her back…the only think I was concluding from her great suntan was that she liked the beach, but who knows. Accept my apologies if I offended any one reading this post.</p>
<p>This is indeed an issue of different generations viewing things differently. But I know several people who got tattoos when they were younger and then regretted it when they were older. While removal is getting easier, it is still at the minimum, an inconvenience. I personally would not judge anyone because of a tattoo, but there are many baby boomers who will, as well as conservatives of any age, who will. Ultimately, you will have to decide how important it is to you to have the tattoo and be willing to accept the risk that it might possibly limit your opportunities in the future.</p>
<p>It’s your favorite poem, sure. But how do you feel about explaining it to every patient, coworker, and supervisor for the rest of your professional career? Not to mention, tattoos about tranquility and finding peace in everyday life are trite and way overdone. </p>
<p>If I were being examined by a physician with wrist tattoo, I would notice it. If it was lettering, I would not be able to resist trying to read it then would feel self-conscious if I felt like I was staring. If the tattoo was something like a colorful butterfly, I might think the doctor was an airhead and question his/her judgement. If the tattoo was complicated intertwined lettering or long phrase that took a few moments to read, I might wonder if the physician had once been in a gang. Either way, the tattoo would be a distraction from the exam. However, I’m a suburban mom who is not crazy about tattoos. There are probably other patient populations (and other suburban moms) who might not be bothered by a tattoo or find it noteworthy.</p>
<p>I agree, many medical students have tattoos. What is universal about all of them is that they are covered by a white coat. As far as I know you don’t have to inform employers about old tattoos. Now if you get Hepatitis from it, that might come up.</p>
<p>But in all seriousness, at least while in med school, you would be well advised to not have any tattoos that can’t be covered by scrubs (so basically, no neck/lower arm tats). If no one knows they’re there, who cares what tattoos you have?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go to a doctor who has a tattoo. If I had a doctor and then found that s/he had a tattoo, I’d change doctors. To me, tattoos are evidence of a simple absence of judgment. They have no real benefit and serve to alienate a large portion of the population. If a prospective doctor has no better judgment than that, they’re not qualified to have me for a patient.</p>
<p>You know, I may be wrong about it. But whether I’m wrong or right shouldn’t be as important to a prospective doctor as whether they can make a living in a medical practice. I was born in the middle year of the baby boom, which for the next few decades will provide a huge bloc of the medical profession’s potential patients, and I’m sure that a lot of Boomers are as turned off by tattoos as I am.</p>
<p>Why would you have to lie? I haven’t seen too many job applications that ask about tattoos, and policies on tattoos typically only apply to visible tattoos. </p>
<p>And gadad, its not a matter of being right or wrong, its a personal opinion. To a lot of people, tattoos have the benefit of being a mode of personal expression among other things, and I don’t think they alienate that large of a percentage of the population. You have as much right to change your doctor for having a tattoo as you do because you don’t like their eye color or the way they style their hair - none of which are based on their medical knowledge, judgement, or skill. But if you think it is, then that’s fine. I still say that if it’s not visible in a professional setting, what does it matter?</p>
<p>The jobs you apply to don’t request for you to disclose information on personal body art or piercings? At the end of it all, are you not requested to sign acknowledgment that everything has been completed to the best of your ability?</p>
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