Patient-Physician Sex Discordance and "Before Medically Advised" Discharge from Hospital: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Patient-physician sex discordance was associated with a small increase in BMA discharge among male patients. This finding may reflect communication gaps, differences in the care provided by male and female physicians, discriminatory attitudes among male patients, or residual confounding. Improved communication and better treatment of pain and opioid withdrawal may reduce BMA discharge.