While the working time of medical interns is exploding with the pandemic, the Council of State has given notice to the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, and the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, to produce their observations in defense, in a one month deadline, concerning the appeal lodged last November by the National Intersyndicale des internees (Isni).
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Third cycle of medical studies, the internship begins 7 years after the baccalaureate and lasts from 3 to 6 years depending on the specialties. France has a little more than 30,000 interns working in its hospitals. "
In theory, the working time of an intern is 48 hours per week with a maximum of 6 guards per month
", indicates Marie Saleten, resuscitation intern and vice-president of the Union of residents of hospitals in Paris. But, according to a study conducted between May and July 2019 by Isni, future doctors actually work 58 hours a week on average, without recovery. And, "
with the Covid, we rather reach 80 hours and 8 to 10 guards per month
", observes Marie Saleten.
Burnout kills caregivers by overwhelming them physically and psychologically, but also kills patients by causing medical errors
National Intersyndicale des Interns
This extended working time, which can be synonymous with exhaustion and anxiety, is not without psychosocial risks.
"
Burnout kills caregivers by overwhelming them physically and psychologically, but also kills patients by causing medical errors,
" says the Intersyndicale.
The subject is particularly sensitive given that five interns have committed suicide since the beginning of the year.
Or "
a suicide every 18 days
", warns Gaétan Casanova, president of Isni.
This is three times more than the general population, according to the union, which organized on April 17, in front of the Ministry of Health, a tribute to the missing.
Ten days later and after meeting Olivier Véran, the interns are still waiting for concrete proposals.
"
No calendar, no strong political proposal have yet been officially mentioned,
" regrets Isni, who pleads for the working time of interns to be counted.