Medical students used to work 120 hour weeks during their residencies.
I'm told that some organization is now trying to enforce an 80
hour/week maximum. In my opinion, this is still completely insane. Are
there residency programs out there where you're allowed to work 40 to
60 hours weeks? Or do pretty much all residencies require the 80+ hour
weeks?

Hello.

Yes, there are residency programs where you are allowed to work less
than 60 hours per week.

The amount of hours that a resident will work very much depends on the
field or specialty of the residency. If you want to be a resident in
general surgery or  obstetrics, be prepared for some 80+ hour weeks.
On the other hand, there are many worthwhile fields where residencies
have much less demanding schedules. Residencies in dermatology,
endocrinology and gastroentrology, for example, average less than 50
hours per week.

See: Residency FAQ

"How many hours do interns/residents work?

    Intern and resident hours vary very widely depending on specialty,
 hospital, and within hospitals between different departments. Some 
specialties are well-known for their less demanding hours during 
residency (and often afterwards as well).  These "lifestyle" fields 
include radiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and 
rehabilitation (physiatry).  Specialties whose residencies are reputed
 for difficulty and lack of sleep are general surgery and obstetrics
and  gynecology.  Most of the other specialties fall somewhere in
between.  Surgical interns and often internal medicine interns
routinely work 100+  hours a week, with some months requiring a brutal
every other night call  schedule."
Source: Residency, hosted by University of South Florida:
http://hsc.usf.edu/~jmensch/Med_Ed/7.html

Sources:

Heavy schedules:

General Surgery
 Resident Work Hours  (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 79.9
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/gensurg.htm

Obstetrics & Gynecology
 Resident Work Hours  (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 74.8
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/obgyn.htm

Lighter schedules:

Allergy and Immunology
Average resident hours per week: 44
Source: studentdoctor.net
http://www.studentdoctor.net/guide/medstudent/specialties/allergyimmunology.html


Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Average resident hours per week: 42
Source: studentdoctor.net
http://www.studentdoctor.net/guide/medstudent/specialties/childpsychiatry.html

Dermatology
 Resident Work Hours  (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 43.3
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/derm.htm

Endocrinology
 Resident Work Hours (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 42.5
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/endo.htm

Gastroentrology
 Resident Work Hours (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 49.6
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/gastero.htm

Hematology & Oncology
 Resident Work Hours (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 49.0
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/heme.htm

Pulmonary Medicine
 Resident Work Hours (During Program Year 1)   
Average hours on duty per week 46.1
Source: medsurfer.com
http://www.medsurfer.com/pulm.htm

Even in somewhat high-hour fields like internal medicine, some
residency programs limit schedules to 60 hours per week.
For example, see the description of the Internal Medicine Residency
Program at
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville:
"Your shifts will not exceed 12 hours per day or 60 hours per week."
Source: Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayo.edu/mgsm/jim.htm

For general information, see:

"More residencies cited for work violations," from AMA-ASSN.org: 
http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_00/prl20306.htm

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
http://www.acgme.org/

search terms: residencies, residents, "hours per week", "hours a
week", "average hours", maximum

I hope this helps.

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Request for Answer Clarification by gremlin-ga on 01 Mar 2003 14:45 PST

There's nothing I need clarification on. That was a very good answer.
Just wanted to say, I just posted a similar question "med school - 
too much studying?", if you feel like more research.

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 01 Mar 2003 14:57 PST

Thanks.

I'll look for some information on the other question. From what I hear
about medical school, though, it's my understanding that quite a lot
of studying is necessary more or less everywhere. It's just the nature
of the beast, I'm afraid.