Female Doctors Linked to Lower Hospital Mortality
In a study of nearly one million hospital admissions, patients treated by female physicians had lower 30-day death rates.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Women’s Health
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A large observational study found that hospitalized medical patients treated by female physicians had lower 30-day mortality than those treated by male physicians. The findings, published October 30 in JAMA Network Open, apply to adults admitted for common medical conditions.
Why it matters
The study adds to a body of research asking whether physician characteristics affect patient outcomes, a question with direct implications for how hospitals staff and assign care. Because patients are generally assigned physicians on rotating schedules, the comparison reflects real-world hospital care rather than selected groups.
This retrospective observational cohort analysis examined 958,150 hospitalized medical patients admitted between 2008 and 2022 across seven common diagnoses. Care by female physicians was associated with lower 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.88), though the design cannot confirm cause and effect.
The players
University of Toronto
A public research university in Canada with a major academic medical presence, where lead researcher Angela Jerath is based.
The details
Patients admitted for medical conditions are generally assigned physicians through rotating schedules, which allowed researchers to compare outcomes across groups of patients who were not chosen by their doctor. Physician sex was measured two ways: by the sex of the physician most responsible for the patient, and by the share of in-hospital days a female physician managed care. A greater proportion of days under a female physician's care was also associated with lower 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.93). The study reported a trend toward lower readmission with female physician care, but the difference was small (18.6 percent versus 18.9 percent).
Timeline
Admissions in the study spanned 2008 to 2022.
The study was published online October 30 in JAMA Network Open.
HealthDay News reported on the study November 5.
Health Landscape
Research on physician sex and patient outcomes has grown as hospitals examine how care teams are organized and staffed. This study extends that line of inquiry with a large dataset spanning more than a decade of medical admissions.
If you are hospitalized for a medical condition, the study suggests outcomes can vary with care team composition, though it does not tell individual patients which doctor to request. Patients with questions about their care plan are encouraged to raise them directly with their physician.
The takeaway
Large observational studies can reveal patterns in hospital care, but they do not prove cause. Patients who want to understand their own care can ask their physician about the treatment plan and what to expect during their stay.
Further reading
For more on how the research shapes women's health care, explore our Women's Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Healthday.
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