If it were not for the intern, working those 80-120 hour work weeks, I would not be here today.
In 1989, I had a ruptured cyst on my ovary (didn’t know at the time). I knew something was wrong so I had my bf drop me off at the emergency room. The 1st doctor to examine me dismissed me as to having cramps.
The 2nd, an intern, working those 80 - 120 hour work weeks said the 1st doctor was wrong and gave 2 possible diagnosis. He then recommended a 2nd doctor. He KNEW it was something serious.
The 2nd doctor came in. If it were not for that intern, I would have been dismissed by the 1st doctor...to go home and die.
My ruptured cyst caused a tear on my ovary, which led to internal bleeding. The intern listened to my symptoms....the pain I started to feel all over my body (which was caused by the poison from the cyst entering my bloodstream...causing the pain).
If it were NOT for this intern, who TOLD ME the 1st doctor was wrong, I would have been sent home....to die of internal bleeding.
Rather than having one intern working 120 hours per week, wouldn’t it make more sense to have two interns working 60 hours per week each?
The rate of iatrogenic complications suggests there are a lot of doctors making mistakes they might not be making if they were wide-awake.