Multi-purpose gown

A multi-purpose gown comprising a front and a back defining a body portion having arm openings and a neck opening. The front portion is dividable into a plurality of segments by various openings releasably closable by a plurality of fasteners. A strap extends in the front of the gown from the top to the bottom of the gown. The strap includes fasteners for attachment to fasteners arranged on the front portions of the gown. Alternatively, the gown may embody a front having overlapping panels that cover the abdomen, wherein each panel has an upper segment adapted to cover a breast, side, and front shoulder region of the wearer. The upper segments are releasably joined to the back by fasteners at the shoulder edges of the gown. When either one of these segments is in its open position, portions of the patient's chest, front shoulder and side torso regions are exposed, while minimizing body exposure and maintaining structural stability of the gown.