Beyond Resilience: Physician Overtime as an Ethical Challenge for Sustainable Healthcare
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Overtime work, defined as recurrent work performed beyond regular contractual hours across clinical settings, has become an increasingly normalized feature of modern healthcare systems, often viewed as a marker of professional dedication rather than a sign of structural imbalance. However, excessive working hours contribute to physician burnout, impaired well-being, and potential risks to patient safety. From a bioethical perspective, sustainable healthcare requires protecting both patients and the professionals who provide care. Addressing physician overtime demands a shift from a culture of individual endurance toward organizational responsibility, supported by workforce planning, effective workload management, and enforcement of working-hour policies, while promoting working environments that safeguard dignity, safety, and long-term healthcare resilience.
Source: Cureus
Authors: Marta Dias, Patrícia P Almeida
Institution: Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203699653