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Attention lapses due to sleep deprivation due to flushing fluid from brain

(news.mit.edu)
599 points gmays | 9 comments | 31 Oct 25 13:14 UTC | HN request time: 1.206s | source | bottom
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HEmanZ ◴[31 Oct 25 16:26 UTC] No.45773856[source]▶
I hope that the actual medical field starts taking note of this.

My wife still has to work 24 hour shifts with no sleep, performing emergency surgeries no matter how long it has been since she slept. During residency only a few years ago she and her co-residents were almost weekly required to do 36 hour shifts (on top of their regular 16 hours per day, 5 day per week schedule) and once even a 48 hour shift when the hospital was short staffed.

Of course I’m sure they won’t. No one cares if doctors are over worked.

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1. cestith ◴[31 Oct 25 17:36 UTC] No.45774570[source]▶
Who said she was forced, and why the personal attack?
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2. jdthedisciple ◴[31 Oct 25 17:47 UTC] No.45774709[source]▶
> still has to work 24 hour shifts with no sleep

Reads like being more or less forced to me, it doesn't to you?

> and why the personal attack?

Not at all my intention! It's a genuine question, which I would ask myself too were I in OP's shoes

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3. switchbak ◴[31 Oct 25 17:51 UTC] No.45774735[source]▶
This is the nature of the medical system in North America, and some other advanced nations. Also, you're not just being blunt, you're being both ignorant and arrogant.
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4. cestith ◴[31 Oct 25 17:52 UTC] No.45774761{3}[source]▶
I doubt her spouse makes her be a doctor. Most people who go through premed and medical school are pretty dedicated and driven on their own. This is a corporate vs labor issue, and likely not a domestic issue. I’m sure he dislikes it greatly, too.
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5. jdthedisciple ◴[31 Oct 25 17:56 UTC] No.45774806[source]▶
If OP feels the same way, I offer my heartfelt apologies.

I don't think what I said would come across this negatively in person though, but okay..

6. astrange ◴[31 Oct 25 20:13 UTC] No.45776199[source]▶
A surgeon is going to make more than an SWE. Also, surgeons are famously unhappy with anyone questioning any of their decisions.
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7. HPsquared ◴[31 Oct 25 20:15 UTC] No.45776217{4}[source]▶
It's not so much "forced", as "given an offer they can't refuse".
8. lostlogin ◴[31 Oct 25 20:37 UTC] No.45776437[source]▶
It’s an interesting paradox.

Imagine doing your best to help someone and they die as a direct result.

Then you get to go to work and deal with the next case.

Or the patient has life changing, negative outcomes. Damn, that bad. Next case.

Living in that mental state takes a pretty unusual character type. We can expect some extreme behaviour.

It’s also interesting watching the change over time. The trainee versus consultant, or the surgeon as they near retirement.

I’m not a surgeon or a doctor and so I see a small part of their world but see some of the perks (they get everything) and some of the downsides, and there are a lot.

9. cactusplant7374 ◴[31 Oct 25 20:46 UTC] No.45776515[source]▶
GP's wife isn't being forced into this profession and they are making a lot of money from it. Do we need to offer sympathy for all people with difficult working conditions regardless of the remuneration?