"We have become a nation of germo-phobes. We have hand sanitizers in grocery stores, schools, shopping malls - and especially in hospitals and doctor's offices. In many hospitals, paper towels and special trash bins even are put next to exit doors so people don't have to touch the handles. But with all of these precautions in place, and while surgeons scrub diligently before they enter the operating room, you might not realize that it's actually your doctor or nurse who could make you sick. The handshake is a universal social custom, far more common even than saying hello. But when doctors, nurses, medical residents and hospital staff greet patients (and each other) with handshakes, they may be spreading disease. For years, doctors and nurses have understood that hands transmit disease. That's why hospitals and doctor's offices around the world have developed strict hand-washing policies (and, more recently, hand-gel sanitizer policies). Don't get us wrong; these programs are extremely important, and need to be expanded. The problem is that doctors and nurses follow these policies less than half the time (and patients and visitors don't do much better). In addition, those alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not work against all germs. Some doctors and nurses (and patients) already understand this problem. But those who try to avoid shaking hands, in an effort to avoid spreading disease, risk being considered rude or disrespectful. Most people just don't want to risk upsetting their doctors (or their patients). As our research group at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA suggested in a recent (and controversial) article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, banning the handshake in hospitals and doctor's offices would probably decrease the spread of disease. We recognize that enacting such a ban would require a large-scale effort to educate the public about why the handshake should not be practiced in hospitals and doctor's offices - places that, by their very nature, crowd together vulnerable patients and dangerous germs." - Anne Bouey

"The creation of such "handshake-free zones" may help remove the stigma individuals commonly experience when turning down a request to shake hands. In fact, such zones may encourage doctors and nurses to find other meaningful ways (starting with genuine smiles and engaging eye contact) to communicate warmth, honesty and respect - probably better, even, than a sometimes-perfunctory handshake. Ironically, by focusing attention on the importance of hands in transmitting disease, handshake-free zones may also remind people to wash their hands. We recognize and respect the importance of the handshake throughout the world. But given the handshake's role in the transmission of disease, it may no longer make sense to practice this custom in hospitals and doctor's offices, home to dense populations of pathogenic bugs and sick patients. Removing the handshake from the health care setting ultimately may become recognized as an important way to protect the health of patients and caregivers, rather than as a personal insult to whomever refuses another's hand. The bottom line is that we don't want to lose a humanistic touch with our patients; we just don't want to make them sicker. Banning the handshake in the health care setting may sound as ridiculous as banning smoking in public places did just a few decades ago. But, then again, how much cigarette smoke do you see these days?" - Anne Bouey

look, he is also wearing a germ laden tie :) - maʀtha

I saw on a food TV show that sometimes busy cooks will bump elbows rather than shake hands. - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

Sushi chefs here do the arm/elbow bump. I never considered it being done in other kitchens. That's a relief, actually. I've been thinking and I'm not sure I've ever had a doctor offer to shake hands with me. I know I never extend my hand to them, because of germs. - Anika

In the Far East, the traditional way is to bow or salute with folded hands (http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en... and http://www.topchinatravel.com/china-g...). No spreading of germs there. - imabonehead