International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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The past two decades has seen a growing understanding that health care leads to harm in a large number of patients. With this insight has come an understanding that clinicians who care for patients who are harmed experience an understandable and predictable emotional response. After an adverse event, medical care givers may experience a wide range of symptoms including anger, guilt, shame, fear, loneliness, frustration and decreased job satisfaction. ⋯ Care might be as simple as asking, "Are you OK?" and acknowledging the normal human emotional response to adverse events. Some centers have developed formal peer support programs in which clinicians are trained to act as peer supporter for emotional recovery after adverse events. Finally, more formal emotional support systems might be needed by some clinicians, including employee assistance programs, hospital clergy or psychological and psychiatric services.