Slate’s Law Blog

Drowsy Medical Mistakes From Sleep Deprivation

Medical mistakes from Sleep Deprivation

Many people know about the risks of drowsy driving and understand that getting too little sleep can result in a serious motor vehicle accident. Indeed, a study reported by the Sleep Foundation suggested that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as intoxicated driving. If we know that lack of sleep can lead to motor vehicle collisions, why do many of us fail to consider the risks of sleep deprivation in other circumstances? A recent study in JAMA Network Open that was discussed in Becker’s Hospital Review suggests that “even moderate levels of sleep deprivation among physicians can cause a significant increase in the risk of medical errors” and lead to what is sometimes referred to as drowsy medical mistakes.

In other words, when healthcare providers do not get enough sleep, they are more likely to make medical mistakes that can result in serious patient injuries. Affected patients may be eligible to file medical malpractice claims.

Physicians Self-Report Link Between Sleep Deprivation and Medical Errors

The new study, which involved a survey of physicians at 11 separate academic medical centers across the country, determined that sheep habits of healthcare providers can affect medical errors rates and lead to drowsy medical mistakes. The authors of the study surveyed more than 11,300 physicians, and nearly 8,000 of those physicians provided information about their own sleep habits and their own records of medical errors.

Across multiple medical specialties, “residents had higher rates of sleep-related impairment than attending physicians, and residents in surgical specialties reported the most sleep deprivation among the 12 medical specialties included in the analysis.” The medical specialty with the highest rate of sleep-related medical mistakes was emergency medicine, as you might suspect. Surgeon specialists reported medical errors linked to sleep deprivation least often.

Lack of Sleep Can Increase Risks of Medical Mistakes by More Than 50%

In total, “adjusting for such factors as training status and practice specialty, researchers found physicians who reported moderate levels of sleep deprivation had a 53% greater chance of self-reporting a clinically significant medical error.” Physicians that had higher rates of sleep deprivation, such as those in emergency medicine, had a 97% higher likelihood of reporting a medical mistake due to lack of sleep.

In addition to the immediate effects of sleep deprivation, physicians who self-reported medical mistakes due to limited rest were also more likely to suffer burnout and to report limited professional fulfillment, both of which can be associated with a higher likelihood of medical mistakes. It is important for patients to know what types of medical specialists could be more likely to make a mistake due to sleep deprivation and to speak with a New Mexico medical malpractice lawyer about options for filing a claim.

Contact a Santa Fe Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Assistance Healthcare providers can cause serious and sometimes fatal harm when they make mistakes. As the recent article points out, if a healthcare provider does not get enough sleep, she or he can make a life-threatening or deadly error. If you or someone you love sustained a severe injury that resulted from a healthcare provider’s negligence, it is important to seek financial compensation for your losses. One of our Santa Fe medical malpractice lawyers can help. Contact Slate Stern Law to learn more about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.