Research says patients treated by female surgeons ‘less likely to die’

The latest research findings that patients treated by female surgeons have better chances of effective recovery and are less likely to experience death. However, it’s crucial to note that these findings do not necessarily imply that female surgeons are inherently better than male surgeons.

Here are some key points from the research:

1. Better Patient Outcomes: Patients treated by female surgeons appear to have better chances of effective recovery and a lower likelihood of adverse outcomes at 90 days and one year following surgical procedures. This suggests that female surgeons may be associated with improved patient outcomes.
2. Methodical Approach: The studies suggest that female surgeons may take longer to complete surgeries and follow a more methodical approach compared to their male counterparts. This approach may contribute to the observed better patient outcomes.
3. Gallstone Removal: In the case of gallstone removal, female surgeons were found to outperform male surgeons on average, with “more favorable outcomes” despite operating more slowly. This highlights that the methodical and careful approach of female surgeons can lead to positive results, even in routine surgical procedures.
4. Attitudes Toward Risk: The observed differences in outcomes may be related to differing attitudes towards risk-taking among male and female surgeons. It is suggested that female surgeons may be more risk-averse, which could contribute to their methodical approach and better outcomes.
5. Patient-Centered Care: Female surgeons were noted to be more likely to use patient-centered decision-making, collaborate with others, and carefully select patients for surgery. These qualities could contribute to their success in achieving better patient outcomes.
6. Accuracy and Care: The conclusion drawn from these studies is that being accurate and careful may be more important than taking risks or operating quickly when it comes to consistently achieving good outcomes for patients.

These findings could lead to improvements in surgical practices and training, as well as increased awareness of the potential benefits of a more methodical and patient-centered approach to surgery. However, it’s important to recognize that individual surgeon skills and experience can vary widely regardless of gender. The findings should not be used to generalize about the competence of all surgeons based solely on their gender but should instead prompt further investigation into the factors contributing to these differences in patient outcomes.