Is this legal?

[DCJenn]

I would think that if the person who follows him is being told the same thing, then it certainly sounds like they're 'fudging' their numbers.

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

I did a lot of reading on the work rules for an article I wrote for MD Family recently.

Duty hours must be limited to 80 hours per week, averaged over a
four-week period, inclusive of all in-house call activities.

Residents must be provided with 1 day in 7 free from all
educational and clinical responsibilities, averaged over a 4-week
period, inclusive of call. One day is defined as one continuous 24-hour period free from all clinical, educational, and administrative
activities.

If he's working 27 days straight and has four days off that would be 31 days - so NO that doesn't meet the four week average. That would be four days off in 28, not 31. On the hours, all you can do is track them yourself and see what they really are and what they really average to.

Unfortunately many programs don't follow them perfectly.

Lily,

That is indeed a brutal schedule. But, serious question here, I thought all of the "work rules" pertained only to those getting paid, e.g. residents, do they apply to med students? Not suggesting that makes it right to give a med student that schedule, just wondering about the legality angle.

[rainbabies]

dh wont have a full day off for three weeks. he has gone 7 weeks w/o a day off before. THIS SUCKS.

i know someone has complained....but it got them no where...and what good would it do to have my dh in a program on suspension?

and what good would it do to have my dh in a program on suspension?

that's what they bank on!

As for the AI -- Kevin's point re: legality is probably dead-on. And they figure they can push the AI's b/c if you complain than 'clearly you aren't suited for this specialty'.

It's a bad, bad system.

[SuzySunshine]

I didn't realize your DH was a medical student - Kevin is correct, there aren't any rules for them that I know of. It still sucks but I don't think there is any legal issue to it.

I'm sure they won't be changing their ways any time soon but I just was curious about whether or not I was justified in thinking it seems fishy.

When I was a medical student I routinely put in more hours than the residents, since we had so much pre-rounding, lectures, etc. Sucks, but luckily it's only a month.

[mommax3]

Yesterday he called when he got to the parking deck and asked me to "talk him home" because he was afraid he would fall asleep.

This is exactly why we got cell phones during DH's residency, when days off were once in a blue moon and your work hours were whatever you were told they had to be. I talked him home many times.

Sally

[DCJenn]

Rick got pulled over once for drunk driving, except that it was about 10 am and he wasn't drunk, just post call.

Jenn