I wrote not long ago about the problem with sleep-deprived doctors. Now I feel I must tell you that the person you are relying upon to perform delicate surgery may be so depressed that he’s contemplating suicide.
Why surgeons? I used to be one and maybe I can shed some light.
Of course you can’t prove causality. Maybe just the fact that a person is a surgeon doesn’t mean he is at risk. The same statement about “we can’t tell if there is something causing this or if this is an epiphenomenon” can be a criticism of almost any study, the way those invited to critique this study have spoken.
There is a problem, and this only hints at it.
Filed under Doctors by on Mar 11th, 2011. Comment. 
I remember my first time and I shivered with anticipation.
Resident Physicians Don't Get Much Sleep
A kindly matron showed me the tiny bed and told me with a wink that I probably would not get much sleep that night. It was an old bed and had seen a lot of use by a lot of people, but it would be special for me this night.
She was right – I was only able to steal a couple of hours of sleep. But it was what happened when I wasn’t sleeping – and my colleagues congratulated me and cheered me on. Read more on Sleepy Doctors — An Unnecessary Danger…
Filed under Doctors, News by on Jan 29th, 2011. Comment.