Often, because doctors shoulder great burden, we forget in Ohio that they are still human. In between potentially life or death situations, doctors put their pants on one leg at a time, they drink coffee and they even need sleep. However, most surgeons are not getting enough sleep.

On average, orthopedic surgical residents at two hospitals on the East Coast were averaging only 5.5 hours of sleep a night. Clearly, this is several hours below the recommended dose for a full nights rest. In fact, this lack of sleep is causing doctor mistakes.

The small study concluded that about 25 percent of the time that the surgical residents were impaired due to a decreased functioning from lack of sleep, they were as impaired as a person that is legally drunk. Do you want a drunk person operating on you, your mother or your child?

It is reported, "Fatigue is higher than we expected, especially within the specific subgroups." So what does this mean? Are residents of Ohio subject to the sleepy slip-ups of surgeons and doctors alike?

No. There are changes in the rules limiting the work hours of surgeons that are still at the novice level. However, even pros can be subject to fatigue. It is the duty of surgeons to be sure they are alert enough to be performing the critical surgeries they under take. Failing to do so could mean serious injury or death.

In such unfortunate situations, the surgeon needs to be held accountable. A victim can pursue a medical malpractice suit against a negligent doctor in Ohio or elsewhere.

Source: Reuters, "Tired surgical residents may up error risk: study," Andrew M. Seaman, May 21, 2012