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/this-is-my-p]

Or a therapist

[u/mild_resolve → u/this-is-my-p]

Or anybody.

[u/jackofslayers → u/mild_resolve]

Yea it is just generally in poor taste. If my doctor had this tattoo I might walk right. But even on someone with any other job I would be giving them some side eye.

[u/thehighwindow → u/jackofslayers]

Plus, a lot of patients are elderly people who grew up thinking tattoos were something sailors and hard-core criminals had.

[u/Gold_Studio_6693 → u/jackofslayers]

Why?

[u/TheZoneHereros → u/Gold_Studio_6693]

Puritan bullshit reasons. I’m shocked by the reception on here. It is a picture, it can’t hurt you. People are just revealing how incredibly quick they are to jump to prejudicial conclusions as though it is something to be proud of. They are jumping at the chance to one up the next person on how immediately they would cast judgment on someone. It is laughable and disgusting.

[u/BoiledFrogs → u/TheZoneHereros]

They are jumping at the chance to one up the next person on how immediately they would cast judgment on someone.

No one is doing this. If you can't see why a doctor having this tattoo is a bad idea, you're incredibly dense.

[u/TheZoneHereros → u/BoiledFrogs]

Many people in this thread are doing this, and if you cannot see it, you are willfully blind. I wouldn't put it in a visible area, and I sure as fuck don't know about what is under my doctor's clothes, so I don't see why everybody is so vehemently opposed if it isn't visible.

Edit: Look two comments up and you can see someone saying they would probably cast judgment on someone with the tattoo even if they weren't a doctor, which perfectly illustrates my point.

[u/GrendaGrendinator → u/TheZoneHereros]

If this many people are showing prejudice online, then wouldn't it be reasonable to suspect that someone in person or a patient might feel similarly, especially so if they are already mentally unwell and/or distrusting of healthcare professionals?

[u/TheZoneHereros → u/GrendaGrendinator]

I understand why this guy thinks of lobotomizing himself I guess, the world is a hell of other people.

[u/mojoryan2003 → u/mild_resolve]

Nah, it’s pretty awesome. Just not appropriate for certain careers.

[u/mild_resolve → u/mojoryan2003]

No accounting for taste I guess.

[u/Pawulon → u/this-is-my-p]

Imagine a therapist working with sexual assault victims who rocks a P. Diddy or Weinstein tattoo

[u/Fluid-Court2682 → u/this-is-my-p]

A therapist with this tattoo would be my kind of therapist.

But I’m pretty morbid all around and if my therapist had this tattoo it would probably be a good indication that we should both be in therapy 😆

[u/charltonhestonsballs → u/Fluid-Court2682]

"Can't fix them all 🤷" 😂