Occupational Hazards for Operating Room-Based Physicians: Analysis of Data From the United States and the United Kingdom

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 238; no. 9; pp. 955 - 959
• Main Authors: Spence, Alastair A, Cohen, Ellis N, Brown, Byron W, Knill-Jones, Robin P, Himmelberger, David U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Medical Association 29-08-1977
• Subjects: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced - etiology; Adult; Anesthesia - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Liver Diseases - etiology; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - etiology; Occupational Diseases; Operating Rooms; Physicians, Women; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Risk; United Kingdom; United States
• ISSN: 0098-7484; 1538-3598
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1977.03280100039020

Comparative analysis of data from three large retrospective surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirms an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion among female physicians working in the operating room. The live-born children of female physicians exposed in the operating room also had substantially more congenital abnormalities. Male anesthetists, compared with nonanesthetist physicians, had an increased incidence of hepatic disease; there was also an increased frequency of congenital abnormality in their children. The incidence of spontaneous abortion in wives of male anesthetists and in the rate of cancer among exposed male anesthetists was similar to control. Despite differences in survey methods and analysis, there was remarkable agreement in conclusions to be drawn from the independent studies.(JAMA 238:955-959, 1977)