Why we shouldn’t trust sleep-deprived doctors: a wake-up call

I wouldn’t trust my Uber driver to drive me after they’ve been awake for over 24 hours. Why would I trust my doctor?

Since starting medical school and hearing about the dreadful 24-hour shifts, I’ve constantly wondered why they are standard of practice, let alone legally allowed. Why would a hospital want the liability of a sleep-deprived doctor?

I first saw the effects of a 24-hour shift during my general surgery rotation. …

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