EXAMPLE 2.30

Discrimination in medical treatment? Studies show that men who complain of chest pain are more likely to get detailed tests and aggressive treatment such as bypass surgery than are women with similar complaints. Is this association between sex and treatment due to discrimination?

Perhaps not. Men and women develop heart problems at different ages—women are, on the average, between 10 and 15 years older than men. Aggressive treatments are more risky for older patients, so doctors may hesitate to recommend them. Lurking variables—the patient’s age and condition—may explain the relationship between sex and doctors’ decisions.