Shetty said it would also be important to look at the impact of the work-limit regulations on low-mortality patients, such as those in pediatrics and obstetrics. This study only focused on high-mortality - in general, older and sicker - patients.

"Extrapolating what we saw to all hospital patients is something of a leap of faith," he said. "Hopefully in the future we or someone else will study this and be able to clearly say whether the regulations have been harmful or beneficial."

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