Female patients more likely to die if surgeon is male, study finds

When women surgeons operated on men, the research found male patients had the same outcomes, regardless of the gender of the person performing the surgery

The study analysed the data of 1.3 million patients (Rui Vieira/PA)

Female patients who are operated on by a male surgeon are more likely to die, experience complications or be readmitted to hospital than when the surgeon is a woman, new research has suggested.

According to the study, women are 15% more likely to suffer adverse post-operative outcomes and 32% more likely to die when their surgery is conducted by a male surgeon rather than a female.