To begin with, a longer working hour and seeing more patients (within a finite amount of time) do not imply a more intensive training - it could well be the opposite. In fact, many educationalist and a few overseas Colleges openly state that physician trainees should restrict the number of patients to be seen and must not have to long a working hour, so that they could see each patient to a greater detail, and have the time to reflect and read up the relevant topic.
I must say I could hardly agree with this argument: Trainees could see fewer patients now because their time is directed to paper work and computer formalities, and, just ask yourself, are you using the extra half-day off to study, or just let it pass between your fingers because of minutiae ?
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No, I was dwelling on a minor point. The more important consideration is: Is it really the case that the older generation used to work harder and therefore they have a better prospect of promotion ?
Or, is it possible that, seeing little prospect of promotion and moving up-stream, our new generation doctors become more concerned with immediate personal benefit (for example, limiting the working hour, or having a good half day sleep after an overnight duty) ?
Does chicken or egg come first ?
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