Psychiatric resident moonlighting : a review and modest proposal.

Moonlighting by psychiatric residents remains controversial, with debate surrounding the ethical, legal, financial, and educational risks involved in the practice. The authors present a literature review of resident moonlighting, which encompasses the policy positions of various organizations responsible for graduate medical education; surveys of various groups and specialties regarding the prevalence, form, and justification for moonlighting; and models of moonlighting programs in several institutions. The authors conclude with specific proposals for research regarding psychiatric resident moonlighting and, more importantly, emphasize the need for research on the effects of moonlighting on resident performance and education.