[AlexCoventry]

> Why do you think the hospitals do long shifts then? Just for fun?

Because the culture of US medical training was initiated by a coke addict, and it's extremely conservative and slow-moving.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stewart_Halsted

[chrisseaton]

But medical shifts are like this the world-over.

[AlexCoventry]

Why do you believe that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_resident_work_hours#EU...

[chrisseaton]

That’s exactly what I mean - cf

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/05/nhs-confiden...

In the UK they always worked long shifts because it’s safer. They’re trying to stop them, and it’s less safe.

Why do you think the reason the UK has always worked long hours is due to a drug addiction in the US rather than experience in safety?

[gus_massa]

> Two case studies involving teenagers who died highlighted the failures to consult senior medical staff early on.

It looks like they are not hiring enough senior staff, not handover problems.

[chrisseaton]

> shortening rota hours had led to more shift changes between medical teams and greater chances for mistakes to occur

[gus_massa]

It may be true, but for some reason they decide to select two cases where the problem was nor handover but lack of senior staff.