In other fields like trucking or air traffic control, they have maximum time limits so that tired workers don’t cause dangerous accidents. It’s surprising that there isn’t something similar for doctors since medical accidents could also kill people. So, why do I keep hearing about medical workers working super long 12-48 hour shifts? Is there a benefit that outweighs the risk of accidents?
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I read a theory once that physicians historically did not work that many hours per day. At some point in the last 1/2 century 2 things changes among medical students / residents / physicians:
1. a large percentage of people in that industry are what we would describe as “type a” personalities. Their competitive nature drove them study longer, prepare longer, and subsequently work longer
2. that competitive nature led to the use of additional “stimulants” to stay awake longer, work harder, and do more during those hours.
The highly driven nature of those in the medical field actually masked reality. The “stimulated” outcomes were deemed productive and acceptable. It shifted the level of expectations for physicians from working an 8-10 hour day to working +12 hours on back to back days.
In short…”type A personalities” + drug use = false expectations that have never relented
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