Sex stereotypes and health care: The case of treatment for kidney failure

Abstract

Differential health care is a potential source of differences in women's and men's health status. This paper discusses sex, race, and age differences in treatment for kidney failure. Women, blacks, and older persons are less likely to receive a kidney transplant (the optimal treatment for kidney failure) than are men, whites, and younger persons. Differences between women's and men's transplant rates have been increasing since 1978. Neither legitimate medical factors nor differential ability to pay explain these sex differences in treatment. Physicians appear to favor males when they select transplant candidates. One reason for this may be that physicians consider it more important to facilitate males' return to employment. Sex stereotypes may be an important influence on the allocation of scarce medical treatments, contributing to sex differences in health status.