I was horrified to just read some posts and learn that residents, at least first-year ones, work straight through for 30 hours in a row at 4-day intervals. This is apparently an improvement on the recent situation which has been imposed by legislation. I cannot imagine a valid justification for this type of schedule unless there is a critical shortage of physicians, which I do not believe is the case. I recognize the need for doctors to work graveyard shifts, but this should be able to be scheduled without skipping sleep. Studies have shown significant harm to health parameters due to sleep deprivation, especially on a chronic basis. Reduction of sleep to 6 hours/night is bad enough to significantly raise inflammatory markers in the body. Mice deprived of sleep had less resistance to cancer growing in their bodies.

Does anyone know of a residency program where such a burdensome schedule is not necessary and full sleep is allowed for? What is the residency work schedule like in the 2nd and 3rd years? I am 50, but was all gung ho to become a physician until I read about this horrendous schedule. Is there any way that I could find a program which would make allowances for people of my age? We recover less quickly than the youngsters.