Health

Opinion: Resident physicians may lose some of their most important work hour protections

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 08:36:24 UTC.

Briefings

A resident otolaryngology surgeon in California reported working 90 hours in a single week during 2023, a practice that technically violated 80-hour limits but was considered normal for procedural specialties. The author, a junior resident, could not accurately track hours due to frequent dozing and lack of timekeeping tools, highlighting systemic issues in shift work protections for surgical residents.

Key points

• Residents in procedural specialties in California have been working upwards of 90 hours per week in 2023, exceeding the standard 80-hour limit.
• The author, a junior otolaryngology resident, could not accurately count hours due to frequent dozing and lack of timekeeping tools during the week.

Context

This finding highlights a potential shift in work hour protections for surgical residents, particularly in procedural specialties where 90-hour weeks are common despite regulatory limits.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single resident's personal account without broader institutional data or official regulatory confirmation of the 90-hour workweek.

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