Male doctors in Ontario 'disproportionately' referring patients to male surgeons, new study finds
A new Ontario study of surgery referrals shows that male doctors are disproportionately referring their patients to male surgeons.
The study, conducted by St. Michael’s Hospital in partnership with non-profit research organization ICES, was published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study looked at nearly 40 million Ontario surgery referrals between Jan. 1, 1997 to Dec. 31, 2016.
Researchers found that males comprised 77.5 per cent of all surgeons, but received 87.1 per cent of referrals from male physicians and 79.3 per cent of referrals from female physicians.
According to the study, “physicians exhibit preferences for male surgeons, and those preferences are strongest amongst male physicians,” while female physicians were less influenced by surgeon gender when making their referrals.
The study found female physicians were 1.6 per cent likelier to refer patients to a female surgeon, while male physicians were 32 per cent likelier to refer patients to a male surgeon.
“During my 20 years in practice, I always had the sense it was easier for my male surgical colleagues to get referrals than it was for me, and the patients they were referred were more likely to need surgery,” Dr. Nancy Baxter, senior author of the study, said.
“Our work demonstrates that my observations were not unique, but reflect gender bias that affects the lives and livelihoods of all female surgeons in the province,” Dr. Baxte said.
The study also found that, in turn, female surgeons “have fewer opportunities to perform highly remunerated operations.”
The authors claim that this disparity will not lessen over time as more women enter the surgical field. Instead, they are underlining the need for systemic, focused efforts to reduce the bias on female surgeons.
They recommend the education of physicians on the existence and impact of implicit biases and the adoption of single-entry referral models coupled with frequent auditing.
In March, one of the authors of the study and general surgery resident with the University of Toronto, Dr. Fahima Dossa, told CTV News that implicit gender bias in the surgical field was one of the factors fuelling a surgical backlog during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.
She also believes that implicit biases can impact women surgeons’ remuneration.
“Women, first of all, are being discouraged from entering surgery to begin with,” Dossa, who is also a PhD candidate with the school’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, said.
“Even once you make the decision to get into surgery, you are nudged or sometimes very much pushed into certain areas that may not be as remunerative. And I don't think that that's a coincidence.”
To push back against the disparities in the surgical field, Dossa endorses providing an environment where there is transparency around the kind of patients surgeons are being referred to.
With files from CTV News’ Solarina Ho.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
New analysis of Beethoven's hair reveals possible cause of mysterious ailments, scientists say
High levels of lead detected in authenticated locks of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair suggest that the composer had lead poisoning, which may have contributed to ailments he endured over the course of his life, including deafness, according to new research.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.