Laura Vater: Hypothetical safety concerns raised about interns

Laura Vater shared on X:

“This July, I can’t help but reflect on the (hypothetical) safety concerns raised about interns, but what about the safety of patients being treated by sleep deprived doctors all year long?

Sleep loss significantly increases the risk of medical error. Doctors need sleep, too.”

Source: Laura Vater/X

Dr. Laura B. Vater is a gastrointestinal oncologist at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, specializing in colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, liver, and bile duct cancers. She developed the SMILE Scale™ in 2017, a tool used globally to help patients and clinicians prioritize health. Her research interests include narrative medicine to enhance clinician empathy and support caregivers in their work.