One thing that I've always found odd about the discussion of shorter working hours for residents. The argument against it is that the same doctor deals with the same patient over time. But, the resident has to leave the hospital some time. He or she isn't on duty 24/7. So if a resident works an 18 hours shift, the patient could have complications in the 19th hour. If the resident works a 24 hour shift, the patient could have complications in the 25th hour.

Most seriously ill patients are going to stay in the hospital for a longer period than a single shift of a resident, no matter whether it's an 8 hour shift or 18 hours or 24 hours. So handoffs are going to happen at some point. It seems like it's important to figure out how to handle that in the best way.