How much less are doctors paid for operating on female patients in Canada?
New research suggests “surgical sexism” is baked into the Canadian health-care system, revealing surgeons are paid less for procedures on female patients than they are for comparable surgeries on male patients.
The Toronto-based study, published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery earlier this month, found doctors are compensated on average 28 per cent less for operations on female patients than they are for similar procedures performed on male patients.
“The overarching message when we hear about studies like this is that society or the Ministry of Health doesn't value women’s health to the degree that it should,” Dr. Andrea Simpson, an OB/GYN at St. Michael’s Hospital, told CTV News Toronto.
For the study, Sunnybrook Hospital OB/GYN Dr. Michael Chaikof said his research group created a list of common procedures performed exclusively on female patients and paired it with equivalent surgeries for patients with a male reproductive anatomy.
Then, they collected data on how much doctors were paid for these procedures in eight provinces and compared the lists.
The result: doctors performing surgeries on female patients made nearly $44 less per procedure than they did on male patients.
For example, a surgeon is paid over 50 per cent more for untwisting a testicle than for untwisting an ovary, despite the latter requiring a more technical internal procedure.
“There is nowhere in Canada where you earn more for operating on a female patient than a male patient,” Chaikof said.
The average reimbursement difference for all paired procedures in each province or territory (Surgical Sexism in Canada).
Of the eight provinces, the largest discrepancy was found in Saskatchewan where doctors are paid 67 per cent less for procedures on female patients, followed by 61 per cent in British Columbia. There was a “smaller but still significant difference” in Ontario where there was a 24 per cent discrepancy.
'DOUBLE DISCRIMINATION'
In prior research, Simpson and colleagues found female surgeons in Ontario earned 24 per cent less per hour – equivalent to $70 – on operating than male surgeons.
The new study found “double discrimination” comes into play when this disparity in earnings is layered on top of the fact that most surgeons in obstetrics and gynecology are women.
“This research basically proves there is a second layer of a pay gap based on the sex of their patients,” Chaikof explained. “They are earning less not only because they are women but because they are looking after primarily women.”
Further research is required to unpack the underlying biases that historically shaped these decisions, he noted. However, Chaikof said he suspects overt sexism and a devaluation of the female body played a role in the province’s decision-making decades ago.
CTV News Toronto reached out to the Ministry of Health on multiple occasions for this story but received no response.
Dr. Lesley Barron, a former Ontario Medical Association member involved in negotiating physician compensation with the provincial government, said this “structural sexism” has an adverse outcome for female patients. “As long as you have female clinicians caring for female patients, your work will be devalued,” she said.
Barron, who is now a medical director of surgical services in Australia, said the discrimination outlined by this study is not exclusively taking place in Canada.
“Sexism is everywhere no matter where you go.” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
BREAKING Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
P.E.I. and New Brunswick among most overworked provinces in Canada, study finds
A study says Prince Edward Island is the second most overworked province in Canada based on average weekly hours worked, while New Brunswick falls in third.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.
OPINION Prince Harry: Press intrusion and the family rift explored in new doc
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again found himself at the centre of media attention following his recent interview as part of 'Tabloids on Trial,' an ITV documentary on phone hacking and tabloid intrusion.