Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Commentary
Classic

Medical error: the second victim.

Wu AW. Medical error: the second victim. The doctor who makes the mistake needs help too. BMJ. 2000;320(7237):726-727.

Save
Print
March 9, 2011
Wu AW. BMJ. 2000;320(7237):726-727.
View more articles from the same authors.

This editorial coined the term "second victim" to describe clinicians who commit errors, acknowledging the significant emotional impact that errors can have on the clinicians involved. Subsequent research has shown that involvement in an error adversely affects providers' emotional health and job satisfaction, and increases risk of burnout. Inspired by these findings, organizations have now developed innovative approaches for supporting second victims, primarily through encouraging debriefing and open discussion of errors. An AHRQ WebM&M commentary discusses the effect of committing a wrong-site procedure error on a resident physician.

Save
Print
Cite
Citation

Wu AW. Medical error: the second victim. The doctor who makes the mistake needs help too. BMJ. 2000;320(7237):726-727.

Related Resources From the Same Author(s)
Related Resources