Sleepy docs a danger

Ridiculous hours putting patients at risk

PATIENTS are in danger from overworked doctors so drowsy they might as well be drunk, as hospitals force surgeons to work superhuman shifts.

A shocking new audit of medicos’ work hours reveals that average shifts range from 12 to 18 hours a day — with one sleepy surgeon working 74 hours straight.

The Australian Medical Association’s five-yearly checkup shows that half the nation’s hospital doctors — including three quarters of surgeons and intensive care specialists — are working rosters that put them at risk of fatigue.

Some doctors are working 118 hours a week, with those at high risk of fatigue working a typical 78-hour week.

AMA president Michael Gannon yesterday called for stricter controls over work hours, like those imposed on pilots, to protect patients’ safety and doctors’ wellbeing.

“Fatigue is comparable to — and sometimes worse — than being affected by alcohol,’’ Dr Gannon said.

“It’s almost inevitable patient harm has occurred from tired doctors.

“But doctors sometimes fear speaking up about it because that might impede their career progression.’’

Dr Gannon said work stress and fatigue could lead to doctors suiciding or turning to drugs or alcohol.

The AMA’s national audit shows that nearly half the doc- tors at risk of fatigue worked three or more days without a meal break during 2016.

Obstetricians and gynaecologists are twice as likely to work unsafe hours now than in 2001, when the first AMA carried out its first survey.

AMA vice-president Tony Carbone said it was “absolutely ludicrous’’ for any doctor to work 76 hours straight.

“Fatigue can endanger patient safety,’’ he said.

“It’s in no one’s interest to have a doctor who’s sleep-deprived looking after patients at their most vulnerable. We know of cases where doctors have gone after ridiculous shifts and had a car accident.’’

Trainee orthopedic surgeon Sanjay Hettige nearly fell asleep at the wheel after a long night shift at a Sydney hospital several years ago.

“I had to park at a supermarket and sleep in the car for the next hour or two so I could get enough energy to drive home,’’ he said yesterday. Sydney paediatric registrar Tessa Kennedy, who chairs the AMA NSW committee for doctors in training, said many medicos worked twice as long as the rostered 8-hour shift.

“I have seen people fall asleep, trying to catch a 20minute power nap in the emergency department in front of a computer, and a colleague slept in her car,’’ she said.

“The culture is you work hard and you don’t complain, or you might not have a job next year, so you don’t want to be labelled a troublemaker.’’