Senior surgeons.

In another medical article, Carla K. Johnson of Associated Press points out that we require "airline pilots to step down at age 60, but there is no mandatory retirement age for surgeons, who like pilots hold life in their hands."

Johnson cites a study published in the September Annals of Surgery to justify her concern. It found, she reports, "that for three complicated surgeries, including heart bypass, doctors older than 60 had higher patient death rates."

This, the study found, was especially true if the doctors didn't operate frequently. So, if your doctor's a senior citizen, be sure to find out how many surgeries he does each year.

And a caution for hospitals: The recertification exams that surgeons must take every ten years are written and do not evaluate physical skills. The only way a hospital can find out is by monitoring error rates and by creating a climate that encourages other operating personnel to speak up when a physician is showing signs of decline. When Johnson asked an aging surgeon how he would know when to retire, he said, "I'm counting on the fact that, if I don't recognize it, somebody will tell me."