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Home  >  Articles  >  Sleep Deprivation Among Doctors

Sleep Deprivation Among Doctors

Each year, a new round of first-year resident doctors meets the rigors of their profession head-on. While some may think they are prepared for the hard road ahead, the reality of this experience is that it often values long hours over precise work. As a result of their scheduling and the expectations of their employers, many first-year residents suffer a drastic loss of sleep while working. This sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for patients.

If you or someone you love has suffered harm as a result of medical negligence, you may have grounds for legal action. Contact the New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529 to discuss your legal options.

Sleep Loss Statistics

It is a well-established fact that job performance and the ability to make clear decisions are diminished with prolonged sleep deprivation. The human brain requires sleep to function properly. With such a sensitive field as medicine, one might expect that professionals would keep up with a healthy sleep schedule and be mentally prepared for their work, but this is not always the case. Consider some of the following statistics about first-year medical residents:

  • Average longest shift without sleep is 37.6 hours
  • Average number of on-call hours per week is 56.9 hours
  • 25% of residents said that on-call shifts were over 80 hours per week
  • Average number of on-call hours per week for surgeons is 72.5 hours
  • More than 10% of residents recall being sleep deprived almost every day

On-call shifts at hospitals are notable for their lack of sleep. These shifts, often required two days out of the week, continue without residents receiving sleep on average of more than 23 hours.

Contact Us

A mistake made by a sleep-deprived doctor is inexcusable. To learn more about your rights and options if you have been injured because of a negligent hospital staff member, contact the New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., by calling 800-346-5529.