That might be true, but at the same time, do we really want doctors who haven't completed some form of apprenticeship? The hours/shift were sliced in 2003 and again in 2011. Though they're still much higher than what's normal in the EU.

What I can't quite figure out is patient outcomes... morbidity appears to have increased (very slightly) as resident working hours were reduced (possibly more risk from handoffs than tired MDs?) - how does the EU compare in this regard? Somebody must have done a study...

Anyway, some form of on-the-job training seems reasonable here. But the current residency system in the US definitely appears broken, for several reasons.