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Thanks for the insight. As for hazing, try making E-7 in the Navy or E-4 in the Marines...now that was hazing. Outlawed now.

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But seriously, there is a rather crazy process involving ridiculous hours - sleep deprivation OVER MONTHS can have significant effects. I spent 1-1/2 years at a Navy teaching hospital, and honestly I have never seen so many depressed residents in my life. The hours they worked were seriously impacting them.

This does lead to abusing the next generation, just like inter-generational abuse in families. There is a reflexive sense of “superiority” to fend off the truth of being a poorly paid & overworked MD, and a concept Freud called “identification with the aggressor”. You emulate those who abuse you. It was really just a statement of the Stockholm Syndrome before that came into existence.

The sense of entitlement (economic, power, authority, and infallibility) that one sees among physicians has its roots here, in my mind. The training approach was unnecessary, yet it continued. Laws were passed limiting the number of hours residents could work, but I am told it is not enforced.

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It’s worrisome that patients are treated by someone who is seriously sleep deprived.

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Indeed! This was part of the laws limiting the number of hours, I think even more than concern about the impact on the residents. They wanted to limit potential liabilities!

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Because of a death, I accepted additional responsibilities…I did 16 - 100 hour weeks in a row with “Game Face On”. It wrecked me. Thus, 16’ travel trailer, dog and packing parachutes. Re-entry into human medicine was strict - 3 days x 12 hours/day and I’m out.I have a hand specialist (fellowship-trained) friend that is one of those that does not require much sleep. He is at it 18-20 hours a day. Nutz. He is the one “they” call at 2AM for upper extremities gone really bad.

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I was a doc in the Navy, spent most of the time taking care of Marines. I do have a bit of familiarity with

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... those sorts of things 😎

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I knew there was a reason I liked you. I never had a problem with Navy docs.

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