take five, doc

A panel of experts at the Institute of Medicine yesterday released recommendations that "(m)edical and surgical residents in hospitals should work no more than 16 hours without taking a mandatory five-hour sleep break, and they should get one full day off a week and at least two back-to-back days off a month".

It is bat-shit insane to have residents working 20-plus hour shifts and putting in over 100 hours a week. Yes, experience is important - but is sleep deprivation really a necessary part of that experience?

Personally, I'd rather somebody trying to help me at least not be a walking zombie due to lack of sleep. Give the doctors-to-be a break.