For the past 30 years, it has been a controversy. When a patient died because of a residents failure to take care of them, the 16 hour regulation was put into place. The critics of the new guideline state that, “exhausted and inexperienced residents will be working too many hours to remain alert and focus on the critical decisions they make” (Kolata). The residents are not required to work the full 24 hours, their shifts can be shorter. Now they have the option to extend their hours. Studies have been done to try and prove how the 16 hour regulation would improve care. No evidence has been shown to improve care, so the organization that heads medical students’ work rules decided to change it. The benefits of the guideline are abundant, and soon people will recognize its importance and
For the past 30 years, it has been a controversy. When a patient died because of a residents failure to take care of them, the 16 hour regulation was put into place. The critics of the new guideline state that, “exhausted and inexperienced residents will be working too many hours to remain alert and focus on the critical decisions they make” (Kolata). The residents are not required to work the full 24 hours, their shifts can be shorter. Now they have the option to extend their hours. Studies have been done to try and prove how the 16 hour regulation would improve care. No evidence has been shown to improve care, so the organization that heads medical students’ work rules decided to change it. The benefits of the guideline are abundant, and soon people will recognize its importance and