Men Are Far More Likely to Abandon a Seriously Ill Spouse

80beats
By Eliza Strickland
Nov 13, 2009 1:01 AMNov 20, 2019 1:31 AM
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It started as an observation in a Seattle cancer ward, where oncologist Marc Chamberlain noticed that his male patients were often receiving steadfast support from their wives, while his female patients often didn't have husbands hovering at their bedsides. Based on this anecdotal evidence, Chamberlain decided to investigate divorce rates among couples where one person had recently been diagnosed with a serious illness. His findings raise troubling questions about the loyalty of the male sex.

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