Lighter side: Another health-reform idea — caffeine
September 14, 2009 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Health care, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Officials in Australia have an, uh, interesting approach to dealing with a doctor shortage.
After docs employed by public hospitals complained they routinely were forced to work as much as 80 hours without a break because of a shortage of qualified physicians, health officials in Queensland state suggested a remedy: coffee — lots of it.
A document released by the health officials recommended doctors slurp up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day — the equivalent of six cups of coffee — to stay awake on the job.
“For management to just say go and have a cup of coffee and get over tiredness, it cheapens the whole issue,” Australian Medical Association Vice President Steven Hambleton told reporters. “We are talking about serious issues here, and this is not just a serious suggestion at all. It can’t be a weakness to say you’re dog tired.”
OK, let’s say the idea works, that doctors stoked on barrels of coffee really can work unlimited hours. Has anyone considered that they might encounter a severe restroom shortage, too?
Tags: Australia, Queensland
September 16th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I wonder how the officials would react if they were on the operating table with a surgeon who has been working 13 hrs straight and is loaded up with 10-12 cups of coffee? Kind of like the pilots that make bad decisions because of tiredness and crash a plane. Then everyone jumps on the bandwagon and says there should be restrictions on how long they work in one day. Even truck drivers have limited drive time so they can show proof that they had time to sleep! You certainly won’t be encouraging any new students to take up the profession when they know they will be worked to the bone and probably burn out in 10-15 years.
No thanks- I’d rather have my doctor not dependent on stimulants to stay awake and diagnose my problems.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Well stated, Linda! Also, think of how the situation could play into the malpractice suites. One would have easy proof when the doctor was on duty for 15 hours and had the gittters from being over-caffeinated.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Another worry would be what happens when your doctor is too busy to get his/her coffee fix and ends up with a nasty caffeine-withdrawal headache? I really doubt you’d get great care from a doctor who is exhausted and has pounding headache! Maybe they’d end up downing prescription painkillers and where’s that going to lead? Hard to believe this “solution” was seriously put forth.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Who are the “Health Officials”? Are they govt or what? Would they condone speed or cocaine as alternative choices to remain sharp? Why stop at coffee? If this was a govt suggestion it makes one wonder how they got into a leadership role with this kind of mentality. Talk about a public health risk.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:38 am
As I was reading this I kept thinking about all the bathroom breaks! Glad is was stated in the last line of the story!
But seriously, as someone who drinks approx. 4 cups of coffee a day, this is not good. I can’t imagine doctors actually partaking in this. But then that’s like doctors who smoke… it’s not good for them and they know it.