Doctors still face sleep deficit problems

Perhaps thanks to TV drama, it’s becoming a bit of a cliche´: the tired young doctor sneaking a few minutes of precious sleep in a broom closet. TV trope or not, it’s true. Physicians simply aren’t getting enough sleep, regardless of their age or number of years on the job.

But how does this impact patient safety?

According to a recent study completed by the British Medical Association, apparently not in a good way. The study found out of 847 consultants surveyed, a shocking 71% reported not having adequate rest time following a night on-call.

Another 1 in 10 reported undisturbed rest is actually quite rare. The situation isn’t much better with American doctors, either.

Surgeons often report being on-call and possibly being up the night before a complicated surgery. And there are no regulations governing rest periods in a private practice.

Another study in the American Journal of Surgery found night shift work has a measurable impact on a surgeon’s circadian rhythm. The report states chronic sleep deprivation combined with work during the night negatively impacts performance and patient safety.

Should patients have the right to ask their surgeons or doctors if they have had a good night’s rest? The fact is, even though working with fatigue has been a part of the culture of medicine for quite a long time, it’s time for change.

Perhaps now is the time to figure out what we can do to make sure those who hold our lives in their hands have gotten enough sleep the night before.