Wash up, Doc
This article appeared in 
To help prevent hospital infections, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that doctors or nurses should wash their hands (or use alcohol gel) in front of you when they enter your room, and if they don't, you should remind them.
Many hospitals have campaigns to encourage patients to speak up in that way, so don't be shy—your safety is at stake. We asked doctors, nurses, and others for suggestions on what to say. A few of our favorites:
"A patient could state, 'I'm a little concerned about the high rates of hospital infections these days. Would you mind washing
your hands one more time before we proceed with care?'"
—Laura Pike, R.N., San Diego
"Dr. Jones, please forgive me for being a fuss-pot, but may I ask you an irritating question? Are your hands freshly washed?
I've become so alarmed by all the reports recently published about leading figures in medicine forgetting to wash their hands
while treating patients, I've decided to ask this anyway."
—Letitia Baldrige, author of "Letitia Baldrige's New Manners for New Times: A Complete Guide to Etiquette"
"I think the best strategy is to say, 'I didn't see you clean your hands, so would you please do it in front of me?'"
—Lisa McGiffert, director, Safe Patient Project, Consumers Union
"How do you do it politely? You just say, 'Did you wash your hands before you came in? You know I need to make sure.'"
—Howard Blumstein, M.D., medical director, emergency department, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
"They can say, 'I've heard a lot about how hand washing is important to reduce infections, and so in taking care of myself,
I need to ask whether you washed your hands before you came into my room. If you haven't, I do appreciate you doing so now.'"
—Isis Montalvo, R.N., director, American Nurses Association's National Center for Nursing Quality
"The simple way is not accusatory. You can ask, 'Doctor, I didn't see you wash your hands. Did you do that outside?'"
—J. James Rohack, M.D., president, American Medical Association
