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After a Mexican blog posted a picture of a medical student sleeping behind a desk at a hospital in Monterrey, Mexico, and attacked her for not doing her job. Doctors around the world leaped to the defense of this medical schooling victim by posting pictures of themselves caught sleeping at work during some of their most grueling shifts. These images are going viral under the hashtag #YoTambienMeDormi (“I've also fallen asleep” in Spanish). Mind you, not only working as a doctor is a particularly demanding job, but they also have to undergo laborious medical studies, often asking the aspiring doctor to live the student life for up to 7 years.

In the 1980s, a high-profile case involving the death of a girl named Libby Zion at a hospital staffed by exhausted doctors led to the drafting of the Libby Zion Law. This law limits NY physicians' work hours per week to “only” 80, showing just how overworked some of our doctors are. Comparing that to the usual 40 working hours per week and doing the math, it seems like the doctors, who are so often responsible for people's lives, have to work practically without any rest or sleep.

More info: BBC

A blogger snapped these pics of a sleeping resident in Mexico at 3 a.m.

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The writer criticized the young resident, saying that "doctors are obliged to do their work"

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There were "dozens of patients who need care," the blogger continued

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Mexican doctor Juan Carlos responded by posting a tweet with the hashtag #YoTambienMeDormi (or “I've also fallen asleep”)

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Image credits: Equador TV

Soon, hundreds of other doctors began defending the resident

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Image credits: Paola Ferez

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Image credits: Caro Leyva

Doctors around the world are often severely overworked

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Image credits: Melita Way

Some doctors work 36-hour shifts or 80-hour work weeks!

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Image credits: Ana Sofia

"We are people, not machines"

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Image credits: Paola Ferez

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Image credits: Janna Henriquez

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Image credits: Paul Alexandru

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Image credits: Projecto Diez

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Image credits: Ernesto Franjul

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Image credits: Sebastian Alzate

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Image credits: Euge Traverso Vior

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Image credits: Sebastian Alzate

Add your own pictures of doctors napping below!

#1

After A 24 Hour Day Of Duty

After A 24 Hour Day Of Duty

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#2

Tired After 36 Hours Of No Sleep

Tired After 36 Hours Of No Sleep

KG Report

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janicepullen avatar
JanicePullen
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I had pictures of me in full chemical warfare gear, snoring through a gas mask, under a desk. Awaiting triage patients.

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#3

I Am Also Sleeping

I Am Also Sleeping

Mechi Fiu Report

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christy012310 avatar
ChristyCummings
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As long as they don't fall asleep during a procedure they need to sleep when & where they can

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#4

After First Successful Heart Transplant In Poland

After First Successful Heart Transplant In Poland

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#5

Only Those Who Are Doctors Understand This

Only Those Who Are Doctors Understand This

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dianamccayparker avatar
DianaParker
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a nurse I see how hard our Dr.s work and the long hours. They are entitled to rest to be on top of their game when needed...shame on the

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#6

I Am Also Sleeping

I Am Also Sleeping

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junkata81 avatar
JunkaMihova
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the blogger should admire the medical resident of resting at work, not going home, in order to be available, instead of criticizing

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#7

Inside The Ambulance Returning To Base Camp After A Succesful Management Of A Cardiac Arrest...

Inside The Ambulance Returning To Base Camp After A Succesful Management Of A Cardiac Arrest...

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#8

Same In France !

Same In France !

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mpcollin avatar
MaryCollins
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Sister is an ER Nurse and she has worked well past her shift many times. F877K that blogger!

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#9

Let Tired Doctors Rest. They're People Too.

Let Tired Doctors Rest. They're People Too.

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#10

2am Nap

2am Nap

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#11

After A Hard Birth :) Midwife Sleeping :))

After A Hard Birth :) Midwife Sleeping :))

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#13

Taking A Nap After 40 Hours Duty. Georgia

Taking A Nap After 40 Hours Duty. Georgia

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#14

Sleeping At 10am

Sleeping At 10am

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#15

We Aren't Robots, Or Machines We Feel Just As Everyone Else Does.

We Aren't Robots, Or Machines We Feel Just As Everyone Else Does.

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SianaeByles
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one, makes you think about how not only do they ALL work long hours but they can also be called in randomly from resting at home

#16

Purposely Looked At Images In A Lit Room To Try To Avoid This But Still Fell Asleep.

Purposely Looked At Images In A Lit Room To Try To Avoid This But Still Fell Asleep.

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#18

:)

:)

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#19

Israel

Israel

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#21

We Take Naps To Reenergize

We Take Naps To Reenergize

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#22

Nghe An 2014, Operation Smile

Nghe An 2014, Operation Smile

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#23

Zzz

Zzz

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#25

Even Dr. Ken Needs A Break.... @ New Orleans Podiatry Associates

Even Dr. Ken Needs A Break.... @ New Orleans Podiatry Associates

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ahavalang avatar
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even Dr Ken needs a break.. # Working hard @New Orleans Podiatry Associates.

#26

S/p - Sitting Position

S/p - Sitting Position

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#27

Right Lateral Decubitus Position

Right Lateral Decubitus Position

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RachelKunde
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Catching some zzz's is the honorable thing to do, rather than pushing oneself beyond the point of exhaustion while caring for other people

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#28

Night Before Exam...

Night Before Exam...

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#29

I Am Not A Machine

I Am Not A Machine

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#30

#medlife

#medlife

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#31

My Son's Friend Energizing...

My Son's Friend Energizing...

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#33

If A Resident Never Fell Asleep, Does Not Deserve To Be A Doctor

If A Resident Never Fell Asleep, Does Not Deserve To Be A Doctor

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#34

We Are Human, Too.

We Are Human, Too.

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#35

Can't Help It...at A Lecture In Medical School From The Philippines.

Can't Help It...at A Lecture In Medical School From The Philippines.

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#36

#yotambienmedormi

#yotambienmedormi

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#37

Before Sunrise !...getting Ready For Morning Presentation

Before Sunrise !...getting Ready For Morning Presentation

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#38

Anywhere Would Do.

Anywhere Would Do.

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#39

Zzzz

Zzzz

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#40

After A Hard Day

After A Hard Day

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#41

Fell Asleep Smack In The Middle Of Post Call Rounds Circa 2011

Fell Asleep Smack In The Middle Of Post Call Rounds Circa 2011

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#42

We Do This For You Health...certainly Not For Ours.

We Do This For You Health...certainly Not For Ours.

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#43

Three Straight Surgeries.

Three Straight Surgeries.

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#44

Even Student Nurses...

Even Student Nurses...

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parisliau avatar
WhiteFox
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how do they all manage to fall asleep like that especially the girl in the far left corner

#45

Even Dentistry Students Need A Break.

Even Dentistry Students Need A Break.

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#46

14 Hours No Ac Working A Dental Mission In The Dominican Republic. #yotambienmedormi

14 Hours No Ac Working A Dental Mission In The Dominican Republic. #yotambienmedormi

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#47

At Least She Gets To Look Sexy While Trying To Get Some Sleep #yotambienmedormi

At Least She Gets To Look Sexy While Trying To Get Some Sleep #yotambienmedormi

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#48

Post 48hrs Oncall

Post 48hrs Oncall

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hasanali_mumtaz avatar
MumtazSyed
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hats off to all these hard working over worked doctors, my children are amongst them all three of them. God bless them all!

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#49

Doctors Have Lives Also And Health To Take Care Of..=( #yotambienmedormi

Doctors Have Lives Also And Health To Take Care Of..=( #yotambienmedormi

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#51

Guilty!!!

Guilty!!!

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#52

Nobody's Perfect

Nobody's Perfect

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#53

Trying Not To Fall Asleep At 4am (3rd Call On The Same Week)

Trying Not To Fall Asleep At 4am (3rd Call On The Same Week)

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#54

2 In The Morning After 18 Hours Of Work And Another 12 Left

2 In The Morning After 18 Hours Of Work And Another 12 Left

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#55

Post-call, In Between Elective Surgeries, And Pre-call To Boot. Good Times.

Post-call, In Between Elective Surgeries, And Pre-call To Boot. Good Times.

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#56

Memories From 1st Year Residency After Being On-call All Night Nonstop

Memories From 1st Year Residency After Being On-call All Night Nonstop

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#57

Lesson After 24h Awake

Lesson After 24h Awake

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#58

After 28 Hrs, Anywhere Is Comfortable. #yotambienmedormi

After 28 Hrs, Anywhere Is Comfortable. #yotambienmedormi

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#59

Re-energizing Myself At 2a.m. In Surgical Emergency (30 Hours On Call)

Re-energizing Myself At 2a.m. In Surgical Emergency (30 Hours On Call)

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#60

After A 36++ Hour Duty. We Need Sleep Too.

After A 36++ Hour Duty. We Need Sleep Too.

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#61

48-hour Labor Watch

48-hour Labor Watch

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#62

Worked Hard Until Fainted Dehydrated!

Worked Hard Until Fainted Dehydrated!

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