NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE

DOES YOUR DOCTOR'S GENDER MATTER?

-  Beth Weinhouse

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) analyzed Medicare data from more than 7,50,000 people over age 65, all hospitalized for urgent medical conditions. They found that patients with female physicians had a lower chance of dying in the hospital or of being readmitted. The finding was true for men and women, though the difference was much more pronounced for the women. While the study didn't determine why a doctor's gender matters, a UCLA rep says, "Female doctors may communicate better with their female patients, making it likelier that these patients provide important information leading to better diagnoses and treatment."

True-Crime Anxiety

Podcasts, books and videos recounting real-life crime stories are popular, with about half of Americans admitting to a fondness for the genre. The stories are often gruesome, and a new survey finds that it's often difficult for fans to forget the gory details.