Patients treated by female surgeons ‘less likely to die,’ research finds

THE INDEPENDENT (UK) – Patients treated by female surgeons have better chances of effective recovery and are “less likely to experience death,” according to a new study that raises further questions on the underlying causes.

The study of over one million people, published recently in the journal JAMA Surgery, found patients treated by female surgeons have a lower likelihood of adverse outcomes at 90 days and a year following their surgical procedures.

In this research of 1 ,165, 711 included patients, 151, 054 were treated by female surgeons and 1 ,014 ,657 were treated by male surgeons.

These findings support differences in patient outcomes based on the sex of physicians, according to researchers, including those from the University of Toronto in Canada.

“Evidence has suggested that female surgeons are more likely to use patient-centered decision-making, more willing to collaborate, and more carefully select patients for surgery. These differences might translate into different outcomes for female and male surgeons.”