TRUST: How to build a support net for ObGyns affected by a medical error
Physicians who are affected by a medical error can show signs of distress. Identifying those signs, and addressing them by providing crucial support, can make all the difference for an ObGyn in need.
OBG Management. 2017 January;29(1):25,30-32,34-35
January 4, 2017|OBG Management
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The signs of, and long-lasting risks for, a second victim
Second victims are at risk for several well-documented symptoms, regardless of their stage of training, including6:
- depression (in fact, they have a 3-fold risk)
- decrease in overall quality of life
- increase in burnout
- increase in feelings of distress, guilt, and shame, which may be long lasting.
Health care providers as second victims also may experience shock and hopelessness, sleep disturbance, social avoidance, intrusive thoughts and nightmares, and poor memory and concentration. Interestingly, these emotions and reactions are indistinguishable from posttraumatic stress disorder. These continued symptoms can have short- and long-term implications for physicians, patients, and the health care organization.12
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