Virtual Mentor. January 2000, Volume 2, Number 1.

Ethics Poll

The National Labor Relations Board Ruling on Residency

The Ethics Poll is a snapshot of the opinions of interested readers.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled that interns and residents are employees of private hospitals and academic medical centers, overturning their longstanding position that interns and residents are students and physicians-in-training. This new ruling will allow interns and residents to bargain collectively with their employers on a variety of workplace issues. Since medical students receive instruction from interns and residents during their clinical rotations, how will the NLRB decision affect students' clinical rotation experiences?

Positively, because housestaff will negotiate for more reasonable work hours and thus be more rested to teach medical students
Positively, because housestaff will negotiate for less "scut" work and thus have more opportunity to teach medical students
No effect on the educational quality of clinical rotations
Negatively, because the relationship between attendings and housestaff will be changed from that of teacher-student to supervisor-employee
Negatively, because interns and residents may engage in labor tactics such as work stoppages

Poll Results

How will the NLRB decision affect students' clinical rotation experiences?
148 votes recorded

Positively, because housestaff will negotiate for more reasonable work hours and thus be more rested to teach medical students
115 votes - 77%

Positively, because housestaff will negotiate for less scut work and thus have more opportunity to teach medical students
6 votes - 4%

No effect on the educational quality of clinical rotations
6 votes - 4%

Negatively, because the relationship between attendings and housestaff will be changed from that of teacher-student to supervisor-employee
18 votes - 12%

Negatively, because interns and residents may engage in labor tactics such as work stoppages
3 votes - 2%

References

  1. Bajaj A. Resident and fellow section adopts policies on residency training. JAMA. 1999;282:802c.
  2. Pellegrino ED, Relman AS. Professional medical associations: ethical and practical guidelines. JAMA. 1999;282:984.
  3. Cohen JJ. AAMC statement on NLRB Boston Medical Center ruling [press release]. Association of American Medical Colleges; November 30, 1999. Available at: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/991130.htm. Accessed December 20, 1999.
  4. Green J. Residents are employees, NLRB rules. AMNews. December 20, 1999:9.
Poll results reflect the opinions of visitors to the site who voluntarily answer the poll questions. Those visitors do not represent a random sample of Virtual Mentor readers. The viewpoints expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA.