Senator Hassan Sounds Alarm on Studies Showing that Women Have Worse Outcomes Under Male Doctor’s Care, Including Death

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is sounding the alarm on gender discrimination in health care following recent studies that found that under certain conditions, women have worse health outcomes, including death, if they receive care from a male doctor.

In her letter to the American College of Surgeons, Senator Hassan points to a recent study that found that women experience better health care outcomes when they are operated on by a female surgeon. Other studies have underscored this finding, indicating that women have worse outcomes for a number of surgical procedures if they are performed by a male doctor, and that women are more likely to die after a heart attack if treated by a male physician.

Senator Hassan notes that this trend is even worse for women of color, writing “female patients of color are at greater risk for adverse surgical outcomes.”

Senator Hassan continues, “Given our growing understanding that physicians’ gender plays a role in their practice and quality of care, this dearth of gender diversity is especially troubling. To further improve women’s health outcomes, medical organizations should also take additional action to support more women seeking to become surgeons.”

Senator Hassan calls on the medical profession to report back to her on steps that they are taking to reduce gender disparities in patient outcomes and improve the career pipeline for female surgeons.

Senator Hassan is working to address gender disparities across the board and stand up for women’s health care. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to improve maternal mental health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients, including working to address postpartum depression and anxiety, and maternal suicide – which is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States. More recently, Senator Hassan worked with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to pass into a law a measure that was included in the annual defense bill to help reduce the disparity in out-of-pocket costs for military uniforms for women service members, who often pay more for uniform items than their male counterparts.

To read Senator Hassan’s letter to the American College of Surgeons, click here or see below.

Dear Dr. Turner,

Everyone deserves to feel safe undergoing a medical procedure, but history has shown that women are far more likely than men to have their pain dismissed, their concerns ignored, and their lives put at risk. Recent reporting indicates that physician gender is a significant predictor of patient outcomes, particularly when that patient is also female. While anyone may fall ill, women are uniquely vulnerable to worse outcomes based on the gender of the doctor that they see.

A recent study found that women experienced lower rates of complications, readmissions, and death when operated on by a female surgeon. This is supported by existing findings that female patients treated by male physicians have higher mortality rates after a heart attack. Other studies have found female patients suffer worse outcomes for coronary artery bypass grafting, mitral valve procedures, and other surgical procedures. Likewise, female physicians are less likely to perform caesarian deliveries. These trends are even more troubling when racial disparities are considered; female patients of color are at greater risk for adverse surgical outcomes. Given this growing body of evidence, it is essential that medical organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, address these disparities and prioritize the health of women.

To further improve women’s health outcomes, medical organizations should also take additional action to support more women seeking to become surgeons. The Association of American Medical Colleges reported that as of 2019, women make up just 22 percent of all general surgeons. In orthopedics, women only make up 6 percent. There are several deterrents for women considering the surgical field, including sexual discrimination, lack of professional role models, and inhospitable work environments. Given our growing understanding that physicians’ gender plays a role in their practice and quality of care, this dearth of gender diversity is especially troubling.

The medical profession must take a serious look at how it can address the gender inequality that pervades the healthcare system. Please respond by no later than March 7, 2022, with information regarding the steps ACS is taking this year to reduce gender disparities in patient outcomes and improve the career pipeline for female surgeons.

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