Stethoscope Symbolism

I paid a visit to my internist this past Saturday because I I'd been experiencing some serious abdominal pain for over twenty-four hours. Before my doctor brought me into the examination room, he spent several minutes talking to me in his office in order to get detailed information on what my symptoms were. At one point during the time that I was seated across from him at his desk speaking with him, I became particularly aware of the way he looked sitting there wearing a shirt and tie with his stethoscope draped around his neck. Even though I was experiencing a lot of discomfort the whole time, I couldn't help noticing what an erotic sight it is to see a man wearing a stethoscope. Another important part of the appeal it has for me is that I see it as a powerful symbol of the of the unique and special role physicians fill. Even more so, considering the circumstances of my visit, it gave me a very welcome feeling of reassurance. For me, it conveyed the message that I was with someone who would be putting his knowledge and expertise to work in order to help relieve me of the physical discomfort I was in - as well as the emotional distress that comes with it.

Since that time, I've been doing a bit of thinking about the reason why doctors almost always wear a stethoscope. Sure, there's the fact that it it's an effective way of keeping an important tool of their trade conveniently at the ready. But let's face it, it also wouldn't be much trouble at all if they were to simply keep it on a table in the examining room to be picked up and used when needed, then put back down again after use. So what I'm wondering about is if the practice of always wearing a stethoscope is something doctors consciously do because they know it sends out a definite visual cue to their patients. I'd really like to get some feedback about this from those of you who work in the medical field.

I'd also like to know how many others on this forum find the sight of someone wearing a stethoscope to be erotically appealing.

Addie an excellent observation as you suggest it is "the icon" an amulet of modern day medicine. That said if truth be told - it really offers little to modern-day cardiology. Probably better than half of all heart problems involve conduction problems (the electrical circuit) of the heart. These are amenable (with precision) to the electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG depending on what side of the Atlantic you come from. Now the other half are acoustic in nature and you would expect those to yield to the ears of the diligent listener. Wrong again I did a study years ago at a medical meeting comparing the skills of 4th yr med students, internal medicine/cardiology residents and practicing physicians. You don't want to know the results LOL. Still the symbol remains as it should, long live the stethoscope and may it always produce a pleasant tachycardia in those of us who labor in the fields of Aesculapius.

DrLaennec collector of stethoscopes come view my collection at ClinicalUSMLE (Yahoo chat)

Yes addie a very pertinent and interesting question. I tottly agree with the symbolic importance of wearing the sthethoscope and yes it's an erotic image for me such it's in a play role to wear it myself.

My theory is that they keep it with them so they don't misplace it - like a pen for example. They're in and out of multiple rooms a day, so it could be easy to set it down and lose it - and the high quality ones are usually expensive. That could also be the reason why there might not be one in every room - just to save money.

Very interesting observations. It seems to me that at one time doctors usually kept their stethoscopes in the pockets of their white jackets rather than around their necks, especially if moving from one point to another. Of course, when a doctor is seated at his desk, the desktop is surely a more convenient and more sensible place to keep the stethoscope when it's not in use.

More recently I had occasion to pay a few visits to a large hospital where a kind of reverse snobbery seemed to apply. Doctors went from ward to ward without a stethoscope and borrowed one whenever one was needed, while nurses usually had one handy, and they were more or less standard gear for nurse's aides - draped around the neck of course.

Couldnt agree more the sight of a stethoscope is soooo hot! just to look at one makes my heart race and when I see someone using one...well.

You're so lucky having someone who steths you, I have to make do with listening to myself which isnt quite the same

I really really love woman witha a stethoscope,it's a major turn on...and the symbolism is very important...when a person sees a doctor,it gives the doctor some respect I guess... it's about domination,perhaps a little about fear too...I've read somewhere that people with medical fetish often have the fear of doctors (which is true in my case),and it's usually all combined.You give the control to the person who is taking care of you.It's a fun and arousing thought for me...

Well it does get your attention doesnt it?

Nothing sexier than an attractive woman with a stethoscope around her neck.

It's an interesting question. Here the doctors not always wearing their steths around neck, I was reading on a nurse's blog that she hate to wear her steth around her neck at a 12 hours shift, because it caused her headache at the end of the day. But yes, it could be hot, and there are situations when a woman with her stethy around her neck is very erotic.

I couldnt agree more.

Actually they did an article about doctors and stethoscopes and they brought to my attention something that did not occur to me before.

Turns out that not only do doctors carry about steths around their necks for immediate treatment when required, but that in some hospitals they are required to because it distinguishes them from other personnel and staff much like differences in white coats and uniforms.

I love the sight of a man with a steth draped around his neck....massively arousing. Especially if his shirt is unbuttoned slightly (or, better still, completely shirtless ?)

For me, it's not only the thought of what he could do with the steth, but it's the whole dominance 'in charge' thing. I think a steth on a man makes him look authoritative and calmly in control, able to take care of me should I suddenly need assistance....just such a turn-on.

I love the sight of a man with a steth draped around his neck....massively arousing. Especially if his shirt is unbuttoned slightly (or, better still, completely shirtless ?)

Mmm, my partner loves it also when I come to steth her wearing only my undies, with her similarly dressed in only her bra and underwear. It gets her pulse racing fast as it does mine! 😃 Ditto when she returns the favour and then listens to my racing heart, especially when I get an added bonus of her having a feel around under my boxers looking for my femoral pulse 😉

...but it's the whole dominance 'in charge' thing. I think a steth on a man makes him look authoritative and calmly in control..

Sorry but I just can not remain impassive when a lady uses the words 'steth', 'dominance' and 'control' in one sentence. OF COURSE there is a dominance/control thing involved in the heart fetish! 😄