A 70-year-old patient at the San
Paolo Hospital in the north-western city of Savona refused to
have surgery when he learned that the anesthesiologist was a
woman, local media reported on Wednesday.
The patient was supposed to have inguinal hernia repair
surgery a few days ago and the operating room and surgical team
were ready when the man asked to know who the anesthesiologist
was.
Turin daily La Stampa and Genoa newspaper Il Secolo XIX
reported that when the patient learned the doctor was a woman he
refused to have the procedure and said he would leave with his
wife.
"I have been told that women who work as anesthesiologists
at the San Paolo aren't good", he reportedly told one of the
surgeons, saying it was "nothing personal".
No male anesthesiologist was reportedly on call so the
surgery was cancelled and the man returned home, according to
the reports.
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