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Editorials

Links between age and sex of surgeons and patients’ outcomes

BMJ 2018; 361 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1691 (Published 25 April 2018) Cite this as: BMJ 2018;361:k1691

Rapid Response:

Re: Links between age and sex of surgeons and patients’ outcomes

Previous studies also concluded that mortality was reduced in patients operated on by older surgeons.

But the facts that conclude this have to be evaluated, whether is it experience (number of cases) that comes with age or the approach to the treatments in older age that determines the outcomes. More studies are needed.

Also, the influence of gender on outcomes in previous research, "Age & Sex Of Surgeons & Mortality Of Older Surgical Patients, BMJ", showed a 6.3% mortality rate in patients operated on by female surgeons and a 6.5% mortality rate in patients operated on by male surgeons.

In these modern times, we have to rise above locker room talk and see women as just as competent as men in decision making and judgement, in any field in general and in medicine in particular, to have unbiased results in studies and research.

Ref:

Age And Sex Of Surgeons And Mortality Of Older Surgical Patients, BMJ.

Male vs Female Physicians: Who Has Better Patient Outcomes, Medscape

Competing interests: No competing interests

30 April 2018
Syeda Imbesat Maheen
Clinician
Stadium Road, Karachi