The Libby Zion Case

The unexpected death of a young woman at the New York Hospital in 1984 prompted a series of regional investigations that have resulted in recommendations of profound changes in graduate medical education. An initial proposal included the suggestion that work shifts be imposed to limit the long hours traditionally worked by house officers. Although this proposal was sparked by a single event, it did not occur in isolation; a variety of forces from inside and outside the profession gave it support. We examine the political and social pressures that urged the adoption of work shifts in the medical profession and . . .