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.
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.