Adverse events and patient safety events can lead to long-term psychological harm for patients and caregivers. This survey of 253 patients who experienced an adverse event within the past 5 years found that just over one-third of patients felt initially abandoned or betrayed by their healthcare provider after the incident; 20% of respondents reported experiencing persistent abandonment lasting as long as six years after the initial incident. These findings highlight the importance of open disclosure and communication after patient safety events to maintain positive patient-provider relationships.