Will stethoscopes be banned?

Happy Hospitalist, no doubt aware that stethoscopes transmit germs just as much as our hands, observes:

Maybe the Joint Commission should work on banning stethoscopes from hospitals, next. Or better yet, mandate hospitals supply cheap stethoscopes dedicated to each patient room.

Don't expect much push back from your colleagues, Happy. Those cheap, clinically useless stethoscopes enhance coding just as well as the real ones.