Fast changes for air traffic controllers... but not for others

The Washington Post blogged today that the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the FAA reached an agreement on fatigue recommendations for air traffic controllers across the country. This news comes, of course, in light of the many incidents recently publicized about air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job - at times, intentionally. Underlying the recommendations is the recognition that, although employees cannot be forced to sleep, regulations can be established that are conducive for attaining rest. Furthermore, they recognize that those on the night shift are fighting their biological proclivity for sleep. For instance, they are allowing controllers on the night shift to read and listen to the radio while they work. They are also disqualifying anyone with a medical diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Although Dr. Charles Czeisler points out that he's been warning the FAA for years about fatigued workers, we should give them credit for acting relatively promptly following the media splash this year. It seems that the potential devastation resulting from a negligent air traffic controller has sunk in. It's a shame that the medical industry hasn't experienced the same realization. Although doctors usually oversee just a handful of patients at a time, there are many tired doctors, and many fatigue-related medical errors. The Institute of Medicine estimated 44,000 - 98,000 deaths a year are caused by such errors. It may be a bit callous to point out, but that is a staggering number compared to a single plane crash. (Other statistics on medical errors can be found here, on the Sleep Research Society website.)

What's the reason for this discrepancy? Maybe it's because perpetual phenomena are less appealing to the public than one-time catastrophes. Maybe sick people in the hospital don't seem as innocent as healthy people on a plane. Maybe it's hard to scapegoat an industry that stands for healing and improving life. But whether it appeals to our visceral ideas of injustice or not, the truth is there: tired doctors are making fatal mistakes.