According to the West Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) doctors should not be overworked while attempting to meet the four hour rule.
There have been quite a few reports to the AMA that young doctors are using energy drinks and caffeine pills to stay awake while working extended hours. At present the AMA is discussing the issue with the Health Department.
According to AMA state president David Mountain, patients are at risk. He said, “There are clearly some shifts that junior doctors are doing that are very long and arduous…With the four hour rule being introduced, you've got to make sure we've got the right staffing and the right funding arrangements in place to make sure that happens safely.”
Health Minister Kim Hames promised to investigate saying, “Young doctors shouldn't be taking tablets and shouldn't have to be doing that sort of shift, so I'm surprised I have to say to hear that there's some suggestion that they might be and I'll just have to make sure that they're not doing that.”
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