A Harvard medical school study found that the interns/future doctors also suffered from distress, fear, guilt, anger, humiliation and decreased compassion that cause even more medical errors as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
A secure web site survey of 2,737 interns in all medical specialties revealed
1. those who worked more than five marathon shifts in a month were seven times more likely to report significant medical errors than those who worked no extended shifts.
2. Interns who put in between one and four extended shifts reported that potentially harmful errors were three times more likely than when they were well rested.
3. Interns who put in more than five 24- to 30-hour shifts in a month were involved in 300 percent more fatal errors than when they did not work extended shifts.
4. The super marathoners were also more likely to fall asleep during surgery, while examining patients, during hospital rounds, and during lectures or seminars.
5. The latter "presents a grave risk to patients with whose care they are entrusted." The word grave is used because the mistakes usually end up there.
When I was in the Navy, we often played war games that required us to do marathon sessions as well. I could see first hand the ridiculous decisions that were being made...or maybe I thought they were ridiculous because, I, too was tired.
Still...the answer is simple...
Give Meredith, and Dr. McDreamy and the bunch a break. Make them take a break. Find others to fill in. Whatever.
The human brain has its limits...and those limits shouldn't be tested on patients.
What do you think?
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