Most CPR Dummies Don't Have Breasts, It's Now Putting Women's Lives At Risk

A recent study has highlighted a dangerous oversight in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training: most manikins used globally lack female representation, contributing to poorer CPR outcomes for women. The research, led by Dr Rebecca Szabo from the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, studied the implications of this disparity on women’s health and survival rates.

Flat-Torso Manikins Dominate CPR Training

Dr Szabo’s analysis of 20 CPR manikins available worldwide revealed that all were designed with flat torsos, with only one model offering a removable breast overlay, as reported by The Guardian. Eight manikins were explicitly male, while seven were gender-neutral. This lack of anatomical diversity is a glaring issue in a field where inaccurate training can cost lives.

Women Less Likely to Receive Life-Saving CPR

Several studies underline the urgency of addressing this gap. Australian research published in June found that women experiencing cardiac arrest were less likely to receive CPR from bystanders, which also affected their survival rates. Similarly, a UK survey by St John Ambulance indicated that public discomfort with touching women’s breasts during CPR led to hesitancy in administering chest compressions.

Dr. Szabo noted that this implicit bias likely stems from inadequate training tools that fail to prepare individuals for emergencies involving women.

The Role of Breast Representation in CPR Training

Although the CPR compression technique is identical for men and women, training on manikins with breasts could improve confidence and familiarity in real-life scenarios. Dr Szabo highlighted additional factors, such as how breasts might influence the placement of defibrillator pads, particularly in cases involving larger breasts or implants.

A Gender and Human Rights Issue

The study positions the lack of diverse CPR training manikins as a gender and human rights issue. It calls on manufacturers and training providers to prioritize creating anatomically accurate models to bridge this gap.

Dr. Szabo stressed the responsibility of governments, healthcare organizations, and manufacturers in addressing this concern. She aligned these efforts with initiatives by Australia’s National Women’s Health Advisory Council to combat “medical misogyny” and tackle key health disparities, including cardiovascular diseases among women.

The Broader Implications of Gender Bias in Medicine

Prof. Bronwyn Graham, a leader at the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, emphasized that Dr Szabo’s findings reflect a broader issue: the healthcare system’s optimization for male bodies. This bias has far-reaching consequences for women, trans individuals, and other marginalized groups. Prof. Graham called for regulatory policies mandating the inclusion of sex and gender considerations in healthcare training tools and research.

A Call to Action

The findings of this study reveal how medical misogyny often lurks in plain sight, embedded within mundane practices like CPR training. It takes a measurable, often tragic consequence—such as a life lost—to bring such biases to light and demand change. This research amplifies what women and marginalized groups have been advocating for decades: include women in clinical trials, design healthcare protocols with female anatomy in mind, and evaluate the effects of medicines and interventions on diverse bodies.

The healthcare system, predominantly modeled on the male body, leaves critical gaps in knowledge about how the same treatments or procedures impact women. These oversights ripple further, disproportionately affecting trans individuals, ethnic minorities, and disabled communities, making this a clear issue of equity and human rights. 

As this study highlights, inclusivity in research and training is not optional but essential for a healthcare system that serves all equitably. By confronting and dismantling these biases, we can take meaningful strides toward justice in medicine and, hopefully, save lives.