Internal versus External Moonlighting by Radiology Trainees

The moonlighting trainee should seek opportunities for extracurricular work that do not compromise patient safety or the trainee's own long-term professional interests, certain ethical and medicolegal implications must be considered.

Abstract

Many resident physicians view moonlighting as a highly desirable, or even financially necessary, component of their clinical training. Although external moonlighting may be a useful means of garnering additional experience and income, certain ethical and medicolegal implications must be considered. The moonlighting trainee should seek opportunities for extracurricular work that do not compromise patient safety or the trainee's own long-term professional interests. Department administrators might facilitate this process by providing opportunities for internal moonlighting, while simultaneously developing competency-based systems for assessing trainee readiness for progressive clinical independence.