DEAR ABBY: Allow me to add my recent experience: In a dermatologist's office, the doctor's assistant put on gloves for a surgical procedure, then ducked out to answer the phone and do a few front-office procedures. Then she returned to the surgery room to assist the doctor -- wearing the same gloves.
In a podiatrist's office, the doctor's assistant smoothed out the paper upon which the surgical instruments were to be placed using her bare, unwashed hands. All the surgical supplies were handled in the same way. After the surgery, another assistant wore gloves while cleaning up the bloody tray -- and then while wearing the same gloves, proceeded to put away the leftover supplies to be used on the next patient. -- HORRIFIED IN CINCINNATI