Female doctor or male doctor: which one has fewer patients die

A new study covering nearly a million patients found that patients treated by female doctors had a lower mortality rate within a month of hospitalization compared to those treated by male doctors (12.3% vs. 13.7%). The difference was especially pronounced among female patients. The authors emphasize that this is a statistical association, not proof of a causal relationship.

A large study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients treated by female doctors were less likely to die within a month of hospitalization. The study covered nearly 958,000 patients in the Canadian province of Ontario, hospitalized between 2008 and 2022. Mortality among patients of female doctors was 12.3%, compared to 13.7% for male doctors, representing a risk reduction of about 12%. The difference was especially notable among female patients. The authors emphasize that this is a statistical association, not proof of a causal relationship. Professor Anat Gefter-Gvili from Beilinson Hospital noted that female doctors often spend more time communicating with patients and consulting with colleagues. At the same time, patients of female doctors on average stayed longer in the hospital and were more likely to be readmitted within a year.