Just Culture Network: Spotlight on the ‘Second Victim’ term

Summary

Healthcare staff are frequently drawn to their career by a strong personal ethic to help others, and are educated to ‘first do no harm’. Being involved in events which lead to harm – or potential harm (defined as a ‘near miss’) – of a patient in their care can be deeply distressing. The immediate need to address and/or repair the harm is often accompanied by feelings of shock, panic and fear. In addition, deep feelings of shame and guilt are common. Healthcare professionals’ competence and identity are called into question and their personal ethics violated.

Content

The aims of this article are to:

1. Outline the origins of the ‘second victim’ term.
2. Reflect on some of the main objections to it and the related consequences.
3. Outline work undertaken to try and identify a more acceptable term.
4. Demonstrate, term aside, the need to support healthcare staff involved in a patient safety incident (PSI).
5. Make recommendations which, if enacted, will improve support for ALL involved in a PSI.