June 15, 2002
From the desk of Jane Galt:Bill Quick has a post
Bill Quick has a post on medical residencies that I think is interesting. I've commented there on the economics of it, but I just want to say that this is a law I'm actually in favor of.
For those who aren't aware of it, medical residents work shifts between 24 and 48 hours, even though they're technically not supposed to. I've had doctors I know argue about how this isn't so bad and the doctors are used to it. My Aunt Fanny. I've worked 24 and 48 hour shifts, and I don't care who you are or how well trained you may be, after you've been awake for 36 hours you are stupid. It takes longer to make decisions. You get easily distracted and confused. You forget things. You get short-tempered and don't think things through.
But Jane, you say, you did it.
Okay, but I was working on a box of bolts. If I made a mistake, the worst thing that happened was I had to reboot and try again. If doctors make mistakes, people die. Miserably fighting exhaustion is not the condition I want my doctor in.
Moreover, the reason that residents are in that condition is that they are victims of a cartel. They work these outrageous shifts for low pay because there is no Option B except writing off the $100K of debt they've acquired and joining Uncle Fred in the air-conditioning business. If hospitals actually had to compete for residents, these conditions would disappear. But because they engage in what is essentially a wage-fixing cartel, the residents have to work hours that put our lives in danger.
So for everyone who wondered if there are any laws that Jane supports, here's one: down with the medical monopoly! Long live the market!
Posted by Jane Galt at June 15, 2002 2:59 PM | TrackBack | Technorati inbound links