It's an insane culture.
My guess is that it is easy to spot error in handovers (X didn't say/write this, Y didn't hear/read that). But errors due that you have worked 11:30 hours are more difficult to isolate.
They don't do it for people who aren't doing handovers, like general practitioners who can work half-days just a couple of times a week if they want, or administrations. So we know it isn't inherent for doctors or for the staffing of the hospital. Only for those doing handovers...
Because the culture of US medical training was initiated by a coke addict, and it's extremely conservative and slow-moving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_resident_work_hours#EU...
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/05/nhs-confiden...
In the UK they always worked long shifts because it’s safer. They’re trying to stop them, and it’s less safe.
Why do you think the reason the UK has always worked long hours is due to a drug addiction in the US rather than experience in safety?
It looks like they are not hiring enough senior staff, not handover problems.
We can choose to think that they independently arrived at an ideal state, but that's not reasonable.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/05/nhs-confiden...
> The report suggests the shorter working week is responsible for a lack of continuity in out-of-hours care
> shortening rota hours had led to more shift changes between medical teams and greater chances for mistakes to occur
> the early effects of the 48-hour European working time limit on surgeons and found that these new rotas had almost entirely removed adequate time for handover of sick patients
Also think about this - those doctors who don't do handovers, such as a dermatologist doing out-patient clinics, don't work long hours. Hospitals only do it where clinically required.