A Boston-based study has found that surgical residents who do not get enough sleep are at risk of making surgical errors more often than those who get plenty of rest.

Researchers followed orthopedic residents at two separate hospitals in Boston and discovered that they averaged five and a half hours of sleep per night. This lack of rest combined with tiredness during the day caused these residents to be impaired for 25% of their workdays. This impairment was considered to be the same thing as being legally drunk.

The results from the study showed that the residents who participated were only using 70% of their mental capacity. This problem could account for more surgical errors and subsequently more potential medical malpractice lawsuits.

If you have been injured due to a surgical error, please contact the surgical error lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., by calling 800-346-5529 today.