Banning Indian doctors and medical students from wearing long-sleeved white coats could reduce the spread of infections in hospitals, says a new study. Long sleeved coats spread infection and lead to avoidable harm and cost to patients, said Edmond Fernandes, a postgraduate at Yenepoya Medical College in Bengaluru. In 2007, the United Kingdom took the landmark decision to ban long sleeved white coats.