Hurrah for "lady doctors"!

[MsAmerica]

Patients have better outcomes with female surgeons
Differences in technique, speed and risk-taking suggested as reasons for surgery by men leading to more problems
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/30/female-surgeons-patient-outcomes-better-studies

Female Surgeons Bring Better Outcomes for Patients, Two Studies Show
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-08-30/female-surgeons-bring-better-outcomes-for-patients-two-studies-show

Surgery is more successful with female surgeons
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/female-surgeons-better-health-outcome-gender-inequality/

The second and third articles, especially, were keen to emphasise how male-dominated surgery is, so I'm surprised they didn't discuss whether any of the difference in outcomes might be down to more intense selection/higher barriers for women (if only to explain why that's not the case).

If only a fifth of surgeons are female (one of the numbers that was mentioned), it would theoretically be possible that while the range of ability and aptitude among potential future surgeons may be the same in women and men, for some mysterious reason the best 10% of the men end up as surgeons, but only the best 2.5% of the women. Which would result in the average female surgeon being of higher potential ability than the average male surgeon.

Obviously things don't ever work as cleanly as that… presumably there are lots of complex and interacting reasons behind the disparity in numbers of male and female surgeons, and lots of factors besides purely ability as a surgeon that affect whether a woman (or a man) goes into the field, but I did wonder whether they might cover it as a potential factor.

A fifth at consultant level perhaps, but much higher at Registrar level (~40%), and even higher at trainee/junior level. At medical school female representation is 60%+.

It’s reasonable to assume that the number of female consultant surgeons will go up and up, which is great news for patient care if the studies referenced in the OP are representative.

As a retired GP I would like to point out that saying “ the best 10 percent end up as surgeons” is wrong. The qualities needed to be a successful surgeon (practical skill yes but also attention to detail, self confidence and the ability to cope with failure without self blame) are different from those needed to become a psychiatrist, a radiologist or a paediatrician. All students have some ability but not all are suited to surgery. I would have been practically okay (but useless at living with myself if somebody came to harm as a result of my actions). I was an excellent GP because of my natural empathy and excellent listening skills. Not all surgeons have those. Each to their own but all are necessary for a balanced system.

@TopOfTheCliff I said "of potential future surgeons". Like saying the best 10% of potential future netball players isn't the same thing as the best 10% of young athletes. And sometimes the best potential future netball player will also be the best potential future hurdler or something as well, and will do that instead. I had to simplify it down to talk about the point that the males and the females are groups that are under different selection pressures.

@Usernamen I'm just going by what was emphasised in the articles about proportions —the reality is obviously messier and like you say different at different parts of the career and different cohorts. It just surprised me they would go in so heavy on the disparity, then not talk about whether the reasons for the disparity might have an effect on the measured outcomes.