BMJ: Suffering in silence: a qualitative study of second victims of adverse events (November 2013)

Summary

Published in BMJ Quality and Safety The term ‘second victim’ refers to the healthcare professional who experiences emotional distress following an adverse event. This distress has been shown to be similar to that of the patient, the ‘first victim’. The aim of this study was to investigate how healthcare professionals are affected by their involvement in adverse events with emphasis on the organisational support they need and how well the organisation meets those needs.