Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Surgeons working too long

A recent Boston Globe article reported that an national accreditation team discovered that junior surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital were working longer hours than was safe for patients. The study was done by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. According to the report, the fact that residents were sometimes working seven days in a row violated patient safety rules, which could lead to fatigue-related mistakes possibly jeopardizing the health of patients. The national accreditation organization gave the hospital until August 15th to correct the situation.

According to the Boston Globe, a hospital spokesperson said the hours have already been reduced. The article cited several residents who are reluctant to hand over difficult cases to other doctors rather than staying and following through on treatment. Some residents say they would rather not have any rules and have the freedom to stay and spend more time with their patients, even if the hours are stressful.

Other hospitals in violation

The Council has been cracking down recently—five to 10% of teaching programs were cited for similar violations last year. The article also said that the Institute of Medicine, advising the U.S. government on health policy issues, is reviewing the safety rules and may change them. According to the Boston Globe, the Institute is recommending that residents be required to have naps for 30-hour overnight shifts.

The Boston Globe article states that more hour restrictions could have implications for teaching hospitals. Usually residents have to complete around 750 surgeries during their five-year residency. And teaching hospitals depend on the residents to do the bulk of the surgeries. Changing the hours of a shift may affect this situation.

Ethical dilemma

The patient safety rules have created an ethical dilemma for hospitals and for residents. They wonder if it’s better for the patient to have a doctor who is fresh or one who is familiar with their treatment.

According to the Boston Globe, Dr. Matthew Hutter, the Mass. General surgeon who was lead author of the study, said he interviewed residents before and after the safety rules were adopted. He said the residents reported less fatigue and burnout. A spokesperson for the Institute of Medicine said that their intention is to make hospitals a safe place for patients, according to the Boston Globe.

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