Will more doctors increase or decrease death rates? an econometric analysis of Australian mortality statistics

There is now documented evidence that adverse events associated with medical interventions have a seriously deleterious affect on population health. However this literature does not indicate whether or not the net affect of an increase in the doctor supply is positive or negative. There are, additionally, other mechanisms by which an increase in the doctor supply could reduce the quality and length of life. This paper revisits two hypotheses concerning doctor induced ill health. Econometric results using Australian cross-sectional data are presented. They are consistent with the hypothesis that an increase in the doctor supply is associated with an increase in mortality.