RT Journal
A1 Blocker D
T1 SLeep deprivation and performance of residents
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1989
FD February 10
VO 261
IS 6
SP 862
OP 862
DO 10.1001/jama.1989.03420060063027
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03420060063027
AB To the Editor. — 
    The study by Deaconson et al1 addresses the issue of resident performance only: residents' ability to provide a service to the hospital. It does not examine their ability to learn new cognitive skills. Since residents are supposed to be acquiring skills needed to practice medicine, not merely providing inexpensive labor to the hospital, the very reason the residents are in training is not examined.I cannot help but wonder if the study was designed as a vehicle to justify the use of residents as a source of inexpensive labor.A more valid study would examine hospitals, or countries such as New Zealand, that have eliminated the system of resident call, to see what the effect on medical education and health care provision is.It has always been my contention that unsupervised, exhausted trainee physicians should not be taking sole care of patients during the night