The report, issued by the Institute of Medicine, focused on the grueling training of medical residents, the recent medical school graduates who care for patients under the supervision of a fully-licensed physician. The medical residency, which aims to educate doctors by fully immersing them in a particular specialty and all aspects of patient care, is characterized by heavy patient workloads, 80-hour workweeks and sleep deprivation.
Dr. Gustin's comments: Fatigue causes errors; errors of omission and errors of commission, because judgment is affected. This leads directly to patient injury and potential medical malpractice actions.
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