The Plague Doctor meme encompasses several iterations, most notably the SCP-049 character from the SCP Foundation collaborative fiction project and historical depictions of medieval physicians. The aesthetic features the iconic bird-like beak mask, which was originally designed to hold aromatic herbs to protect doctors from 'miasma.' In internet culture, the character is often portrayed as an eccentric healer who views mundane human behavior as a 'pestilence' and offers absurdly violent or archaic 'cures' like leeches. Whether referencing the 14th-century Black Death or the cold, clinical nature of modern creepypastas, the Plague Doctor remains a staple for dark humor and commentary on health and societal issues.