Sad to read, but probably more common than one realizes. Let's just say that I, too, know of a program as well that works the residents for the first 2-1/2 months without one day off while they "get to know the system." One program director noted that that is "not allowed." I believe, from what others have told me, that they get away with this kind of behavior because there are a lot of foreign graduates at these institutions and they are "thrilled" to be in a program, no matter the costs. Others have told me the same about other (even more famous) institutions. So much for "laws" preventing these kind of shenanigans.