Australian medical groups on Tuesday slammed state government guidelines recommending sleep-deprived doctors should drink up to six cups of coffee to remain alert during marathon shifts.

Queensland Health made the suggestion in a policy paper on fatigue risk management, declaring "strategic use of caffeine... to be beneficial" for doctors, Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper reported.

"The recommended dosage for a prolonged and significant reduction in sleepiness during a night without sleep has been suggested at 400mg of caffeine... equivalent to about five to six cups of coffee," the document said.

It said energy drinks were also a remedy for weary doctors but recommended caffeine pills or coffee because they were readily available and inexpensive, the Courier-Mail reported.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) described the guidelines as "disturbing" and said doctors working shifts of up to 80 hours needed to have proper rest breaks.

"Lives are being put on the line, that's why the AMA has repeatedly drawn attention to this, we've got to change the attitude, we've got to change the rostering," vice-president Steve Hambleton told Channel Nine television.

The issue was highlighted after Queensland's Salaried Doctors Association anonymously surveyed medical practitioners and reported major fatigue-related problems, including surgeons falling asleep in operating theatres.

Queensland Health's Townsville district medical director Andrew Johnson defended the guidelines he helped to draft, saying they emphasised producing rosters that allowed doctors to get adequate sleep.

But he said caffeine was a well-known stimulant "and when you're in a tight spot, it can help."