Unmasking the silent struggle: Second Victim Syndrome among surgeons (22 November 2023)

Summary

The harsh reality of surgery often involves grappling with the distressing and emotionally taxing aspects of human suffering that many people outside of healthcare never witness. When complications occur, surgeons feel the weight of their responsibility and are often alone to ruminate with negative thoughts of self-doubt, sometimes leading to anxiety and depression. This article in The American Journal of Surgery examines existing literature on Second Victim Syndrome (SVS) specifically focusing on prevalence among surgeons and factors related to different responses. The authors identify women and junior surgeons at particularly high risk of SVS and peer support as a preferred method of coping but an overall lack of institutional support highlighting the need for ongoing, open conversations about the topic of surgeon well-being.