Date: 31/07/2009
Analysis dispels myth that surgeons are more likely to refuse to operate on risky cases if data is made public. The death rates of people undergoing heart operations have dropped dramatically over the last few years since surgeons started publishing the figures, it will be revealed tomorrow.
The data on 400,000 operations over the last five years, published by the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, shows death rates in coronary artery surgery have fallen by 21% and in aortic valve replacement operations by one third, despite the fact the age of the patients and the complexity of their conditions has increased.
The most detailed analysis yet of the outcomes for heart patients comprehensively dispels the myth that surgeons are more likely to refuse to operate on risky cases if the data is made public, for fear of being seen to have a high death rate.
To view full story see The Guardian Online.
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