A recent study found that female doctors were less likely than their male counterparts to experience a “medico-legal action.” The study identified and reviewed results from 32 studies concerning medico-legal action. They found that the medico-legal action were initiated against male doctors two-and-a half times more frequently than against female doctors. In addition, the researchers found that this ratio had remained consistent over the past 15 years, even when comparing physicians in different countries.

The term “Medico-legal action” was defined as disciplinary action by a medical regulatory board, malpractice experience, referral to a medical regulatory body, complaints received by a healthcare complaints body, and criminal cases. A full copy of the study is available here:

[Sex differences in medico-legal action against doctors: a systematic review and meta-analysis](http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/13/172)

While the reasons for the disparity between the sexes was beyond the scope of the study, researchers concluded that there is likely to be fundamental reasons to explain the difference. Potential reasons included the fact that male doctors may work more hours than female doctors and/or that male doctors have more interactions with patients.

Does this mean that consumers should take into account the sex of their physician? Can patients lower their chance of experiencing medical errors, including ER mistakes, misdiagnosis, or birth injuries, by simply choosing a female physician? Is sex as important as a physician’s experience and education? This study provides no guidance.

The study’s only real finding is that over the past 15 years male physicians have been two-and-half times more likely to be the subject of a medico-legal action than female physicians. Clearly, more research is needed before patients should choose a health care provider based upon the sex of the physician.