Abstract
In ancient times, female medical practitioners and female surgeons were well known.
With the introduction of medicine as an academic course and the ban on women studying,
the medical career became virtually impossible for women. This condition changed with
the general admission for women to colleges, in Germany in 1908. The current situation
of women in surgery is presented here, with cardiovascular surgery as an example.
Of 302 active cardiothoracic and cardiac surgeons 4.6% are female. According to an
inquiry of all German heart institutes, there are 20 female senior registrars and
27 female surgeons as well as 162 female assistants. Most of the medical directors
do have a positive opinion about female surgeons, but criticize that only a few women
who apply for actually finish surgical training. One reason for this may be the greater
difficulties for women to take care of a family and become a surgeon simultaneously.
In this regard, an improvement in the position of female doctors is desirable.
Key words
Female surgeon - Female medical practioner - History of medicine
