Chances of Surviving a Hospital Stay

By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer

About 11 percent of patients treated mostly by women died within 30 days of entering the hospital, versus 11.5 percent of those treated by men. But the all-male research team estimated that there would be about 32,000 fewer deaths each year in the U.S. if male physicians performed at the same level as their female peers.

The study didn't probe why there might be these differences in survival. And Dr. Ashish Jha, the lead author, said the study doesn't mean patients should avoid him and all other male physicians.

But he said male doctors could take a cue from women doctors' tendencies that might contribute to better care. According to other research, women doctors are more likely than men to follow treatment guidelines, provide preventive care more often and communicate more with patients.

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Dr. Lisa Schwartz of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice said the study doesn't prove whether doctors' sex accounted for the results. "To make a stronger case, you'd need information on doctors' practices in the study," she said. For example, did women physicians give patients with pneumonia antibiotics sooner than men physicians — treatment that could potentially improve survival chances, she said.

For example, did women doctors give patients with pneumonia antibiotics sooner — treatment that could potentially improve survival chances, she said.

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