The effects of unconscious sexism in surgery (Re-release)
Dr Katrina Hutchison – Gender biases can be so subtle that often the behaviour is not obvious to victims or offenders alike. However, the consequences can be very real and, in surgery, quite devastating. Dr Katrina Hutchison is a Macquarie University Research Fellow in the Department of Philosophy; her current project focuses on gender biases in surgery and their impact on both surgeons and patients.
Systemic gender biases in the development, testing and approval of medical devices can have debilitating effects on patients. Dr Katrina Hutchison, from a paper she co-authored, examines two cases: hip prostheses and tissue repair meshes to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP). She discusses the impact of unconscious sexism in surgery and steps needed to raise awareness of this important issue.
