Profession
Bill seeks stricter resident hours
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 25, 2005
Proposed legislation asking for tighter restrictions on residents' work hours and for fines against hospitals violating these requirements has been reintroduced in the House and Senate.
Originally submitted in 2001, the Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act of 2005 goes beyond the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which limit residents to 80-hour weeks and 30-hour in-hospital call shifts. The bills before both chambers of Congress would mirror the work week of 80 hours, but would limit call to 24-hour shifts. They would also allow the government to fine programs $100,000 for violating these limits.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/25/prbf0725.htm.
