Unfunded Requirements and Mandatory Illegal Overtime

[nashville7]

I am a medical resident at a Nashville hospital, and I am being required by my department to obtain counseling for a minor issue and fulfill all recommendations of the Employee Assistance Program. However, my department is neither paying for these appointments nor adjusting my schedule to allow me to keep these appointments and still comply with the residency work hours requirements. These appointments have caused me to work more hours and more days in a row than permitted by law.
By the new year, I will have to pay an additional $1000 (just the beginning) for these appointments as well as commit to following any yet to be determined recommendations for a yet to be determined amount of time.
Can they do this? I don't have the time or the money to comply, but I do not want to be fired either, as leaving a program under these circumstances could be career-ending. Please help.

 

[cbg]

These appointments have caused me to work more hours and more days in a row than permitted by law.

To what law are you referring?

 

[nashville7]

The law is the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education's work hours requirements: working no more than 80 hours per week, 30 hours at a time, and with one day off in 7 averaged over 4 weeks.
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/dutyHours/dh_ComProgrRequirmentsDutyHours0707.pdf
I do not know if this law applies to mandated counseling, or just to clinical duties.
I also don't know if my department can mandated counseling and not fund it.