Exit the tie
BMJ 2009; 338 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2047 (Published 20 May 2009) Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2047
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Trisha Greenhalgh (BMJ 23 May 2009:338; 1278) suggested abolition of
school ties to reduce strangulation risk, but came up short seeking
publication after calculating numbers needed to harm.
Alan Johnson had no trouble banning doctors’ ties, despite a total
lack of evidence that anyone had ever been harmed. The benefits of that
intervention have likewise failed to find publication in a peer review
journal.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
The tie is surely the most useless accoutrement to male attire since
the wig and the ruff. Hospital practitioners are now obliged NOT to wear
ties. Many schools no longer require ties as part of the girls' uniform.
Perhaps it is now time to remove the requirement for boys to wear ties
(clip-on or otherwise) as well - if for no other reason in the interests
of equality.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Back to the Safari Suit?
In my country, Zambia, the tie was seen as a leftover from British
Colonial rule when the country became independent in 1964. Government
leaders of the day promoted the Safari Suit, a collar less attire made
famous by former Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung.
However, with the advent of political pluralism in the 1990s the tie
and its accompaniment, the western suit came back with a bang and is now
the the favoured dress in official circles. Indeed most health
profesionals would consider themselves improperly dressed without a tie
and jacket !!
But now with increasing reports about the hazards of the tie from
both the potential to spread infectious agents and the the danger of
strangulation ( Trish Greenhalgh, BMJ, 2009; 338; b2047), it maybe time
for us in the tropics to revert back to the Safari Suit.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests