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?
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