Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
June 18, 2011, Apple Daily [Reported by Shen Nengyuan, Ning Weiyu]
A netizen posted a "Terrifying ER Experience" on PTT (telnet://ptt.cc), recounting how they visited the emergency room at China Medical University Hospital’s Taipei branch in the early hours of last Saturday. During the visit, the doctor allegedly fell asleep, while nurses were busy discussing how to save on shipping fees for online shopping. The netizen expressed relief at having "survived" the hospital visit. The hospital later apologized to the netizen over the phone. Medical reform advocates warned that overworked doctors could lead to fatal errors and called for stricter control of working hours.
"Grateful to Leave Alive"
The netizen, imkatrina (also known as "Dwarf Seahorse"), shared that they went to the emergency room for a cough. While the doctor was typing medical records, "his hands gradually slowed down... until he stopped moving altogether and fell asleep. If not for my coughing, he might have slept until morning." After waking up, the doctor instructed nurses to administer an IV before returning to rest. During the IV drip, imkatrina overheard two nurses loudly discussing online shopping strategies to waive shipping fees. Around 4 a.m., the groggy doctor finally dismissed them. Upon leaving, imkatrina wrote, "I’m just glad I made it out alive." Apple Daily was unable to reach imkatrina for further comment.
China Medical University Hospital’s Taipei branch admitted that inappropriate conversations among nurses did occur in the ER last Saturday, and the head nurse had personally apologized to imkatrina. Regarding the doctor falling asleep, the hospital explained that the physician had been on duty for two to three consecutive 12-hour shifts and may have dozed off due to exhaustion. Imkatrina later updated their post, confirming that both the head nurse and the doctor’s supervisor had apologized.
Work Shifts Need Review
Huang Jingxiang, deputy director of the Medical Reform Foundation’s research division, warned that exhausted doctors could misdiagnose patients, potentially leading to fatalities, and urged work-hour limits similar to those for pilots. Shi Chongliang, director of the Department of Medical Affairs under the Department of Health, noted that while regulations do not specify ER doctors’ night shifts, the common practice is one day on, one day off. He suggested the hospital review its shift arrangements.
Source: http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110618/143/2tjb6.html
ER Doctor Falls Asleep While Treating Patients, Nurses Chat about Online Shopping; China Medical University Hospital Apologizes
A netizen posted a "Terrifying ER Experience" on PTT (telnet://ptt.cc), recounting how they visited the emergency room at China Medical University Hospital’s Taipei branch in the early hours of last Saturday. During the visit, the doctor allegedly fell asleep, while nurses were busy discussing how to save on shipping fees for online shopping. The netizen expressed relief at having "survived" the hospital visit. The hospital later apologized to the netizen over the phone. Medical reform advocates warned that overworked doctors could lead to fatal errors and called for stricter control of working hours.
"Grateful to Leave Alive"
The netizen, imkatrina (also known as "Dwarf Seahorse"), shared that they went to the emergency room for a cough. While the doctor was typing medical records, "his hands gradually slowed down... until he stopped moving altogether and fell asleep. If not for my coughing, he might have slept until morning." After waking up, the doctor instructed nurses to administer an IV before returning to rest. During the IV drip, imkatrina overheard two nurses loudly discussing online shopping strategies to waive shipping fees. Around 4 a.m., the groggy doctor finally dismissed them. Upon leaving, imkatrina wrote, "I’m just glad I made it out alive." Apple Daily was unable to reach imkatrina for further comment.
China Medical University Hospital’s Taipei branch admitted that inappropriate conversations among nurses did occur in the ER last Saturday, and the head nurse had personally apologized to imkatrina. Regarding the doctor falling asleep, the hospital explained that the physician had been on duty for two to three consecutive 12-hour shifts and may have dozed off due to exhaustion. Imkatrina later updated their post, confirming that both the head nurse and the doctor’s supervisor had apologized.
Work Shifts Need Review
Huang Jingxiang, deputy director of the Medical Reform Foundation’s research division, warned that exhausted doctors could misdiagnose patients, potentially leading to fatalities, and urged work-hour limits similar to those for pilots. Shi Chongliang, director of the Department of Medical Affairs under the Department of Health, noted that while regulations do not specify ER doctors’ night shifts, the common practice is one day on, one day off. He suggested the hospital review its shift arrangements.
Source: http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110618/143/2tjb6.html