In a controversial move, the national body that oversees graduate medical education is looking to end the 16-hour shift limit for first-year residents.
Under revised rules proposed Friday, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education would allow residency programs to assign first-year trainees to shifts as long as 28 hours, the current maximum for residents in later years. The proposed rules would not change the current maximum hours a resident can work per week at 80, averaged over four weeks.
The decision comes amid fierce debate over whether longer shifts compromise patient safety and expose young residents to burnout that could shorten their careers, or even end them before they get started. It didn't take long for the council's announcement to provoke a fiery response.
