An auditory report has highlighted that Australian doctors are working for more than usual. It has been warned that this could ultimately lead to wrong diagnosis and hence put patient’s life at risk.

A survey conducted by Australian Medical Association included almost 1500 doctors. Out of them 53% were considered as the one, who were working for long hours that put them at high risk of exhaustion or weariness.

One of the doctors was found to be working for 43-hours in a single shift and another one was discovered working for 120-hours in a week.

AMA Vice-President Geoffrey Dobb exclaimed that the results of the survey have raised concerns. It has been proved that a person working for or awake for 17 hours at a stretch was impaired, which was similar to the effect produced after blood-alcohol concentration raised above 0.5%.

It has been distressing to administer that Victorian Health Minister David Davis has not yet been able to conduct an audit of his doctors, despite being making promises in election campaign during 2010.

AMA Victoria president Dr Stephen Parnis said, “This could inform structural changes to reduce unsafe hours including overlapping shifts that enabled doctors to conduct thorough handovers”.