[mhalle]

Hospital delirium is the current accepted name for this condition. It covers much more than sleep. It includes the stress of complex and potentially life threatening medical and social conditions, confusion related to time of day and time unconscious, the effects of medication, and possible underlying mental health issues. All compound each other.

Your charge against doctors and nurses is extreme and unwarranted. Health professionals don't exacerbate these problems willingly or intentionally. ICU delirium puts doctors and nurses at risk of injury or even assault by patients with vivid hallucinations.