The impact of perioperative catastrophes on anesthesiologists: results of a national survey.
The term "second victim" was coined to describe clinicians who are involved in medical errors, acknowledging the emotional impact errors can have on clinicians' personal and professional lives. This study surveyed anesthesiologists and found that 84% of respondents were involved in at least one serious adverse event in the perioperative setting. More than 70% reported feeling guilt, anxiety, and reliving the event, and nearly 90% required time to emotionally recover. Given that almost 20% reported that they never fully recovered, these findings reinforce the profound and often lasting impact second victims experience following medical errors. The authors advocate for better programs that support providers at the time of the event and thereafter to help manage the emotional burden involved. A past AHRQ WebM&M commentary discussed how providers recover from errors.