The signs of, and long-lasting risks for, a second victim
Second victims are at risk for several well-documented symptoms, regardless of their stage of training, including6:
- depression (in fact, they have a 3-fold risk)
- decrease in overall quality of life
- increase in burnout
- increase in feelings of distress, guilt, and shame, which may be long lasting.
Health care providers as second victims also may experience shock and hopelessness, sleep disturbance, social avoidance, intrusive thoughts and nightmares, and poor memory and concentration. Interestingly, these emotions and reactions are indistinguishable from posttraumatic stress disorder. These continued symptoms can have short- and long-term implications for physicians, patients, and the health care organization.12