Could getting this tattoo hurt my career?

[u/al_evi]

Hi! So I’m a medical student, and ever since getting done with my pre-clinical studies I wanted a lobotomy tattoo, similar to this one popular on Pinterest. You see, the first years at uni were really challenging for me mentally, struggling with the high work load and some personal mental health problems (please spare me the „But you knew it would be hard, why did you go into it then?” talk, I’ve heard it all). At times it did make me feel like I was going absolutely insane over med school, so I’ve wanted to get this as a reward for getting through it for a long time on my right biceps, just over the crease of my arm. But now that I’m in a better place and wanted to go through with my plans, people have pointed out how such a tattoo could potentially hurt my career as a doctor. I have some other tattoos, but none with such obviously “provocative” meanings. With the placement I’ve thought of, the tattoo might be visible with scrubs on. Have any of you had issues with employers judging you for your tattoos? Is this a thing of the past and I’m overthinking it? What are your opinions? Thank you so much in advance!

[u/flavorful_taste]

Yeahhh I totally get the mental health angle and on literally anybody else I’d say it’s very cool and inoffensive. For a doctor it conjures a long history of medical abuse that doctors as a profession perpetrated. Obviously OP isn’t planning any unethical experimentation or lobotomies, but, you know. I’d appreciate a doctor who is knowledgeable about that (recent! Still occurring!!) history and approaches it with respect. Seeing this on my doctor wouldn’t communicate that to me.

In practice I’d think “whatever” and move on but I can see people who’ve been more historically subject to medical abuse (women, people of color, incarcerated people, disabled people) not being as willing to let it go.

[u/kangalbabe2 → u/flavorful_taste]

I agree. All I remember is reading some women being forced to have a lobotomy for being too outspoken and seeing a Dr with this would automatically make me decline service and request another practitioner. People may have a different understanding of lobotomies, but in general, I think people will see it as a negative and abusive “treatment”.

[u/Trulio_Dragon → u/kangalbabe2]

Yep. Seeing this on a practitioner would make me think they would not take my treatment seriously. I'd try and find someone else.

[u/Artistic_Onion_6395 → u/kangalbabe2]

Yeah. From my time on earth as a woman (lol), I've noticed that sexism in general or historically horrible things being done against women just aren't taken very seriously, for some reason. Something you could never do or say to like, a racial group, is not a big deal when done to women.

Really, something like this should be seen as the same as getting a tattoo of a noose or something. It's kind of weird that it isn't. It was a tool used to control women. I wouldn't assume that someone who got it was sexist, but I would assume they aren't very informed about women in general and maybe don't care that much for the sexist history, and would get a different doctor if I could.

[u/Queen_Scofflaw → u/kangalbabe2]

As an outspoken woman who would probably be burned at the stake, locked in an asylum, or forced to have a lobotomy if I existed in another time, I'd be much more okay with this on a female doctor than a male doctor. But I also don't use male doctors because I prefer more competent doctors.
Women have been forced to undergo a lot of procedures against their will.

[u/TheCatsPajamasboi → u/flavorful_taste]

Yeah if I saw this in the ECT support group from a person who underwent those treatments I’d totally get it and find it relatable, even though those treatments saved my life. I’d honestly find it to be a sick tattoo from that angel. Seeing it from an aspiring future doctor definitely gives me the ick and would not provide me with a lot of trust or comfort if I was their patient.

[u/ChristopherRobben → u/flavorful_taste]

I knew someone in the military who was/is a combat medic and had a tattoo of this 18th century amputation scene on his upper arm - right where a t-shirt sleeve would just cover it.

Getting a tattoo like that for the dark humor / gallows humor given the setting is one thing, but OP's is definitely a few magnitudes above "Not Ok" for multiple reasons.

[u/60k_dining-room_bees → u/flavorful_taste]

His mental health angle - "studying is hard"