"Fall Victim": Concepts and Consequences of the “Second Victim Syndrome” as Applied to the Radiology Workplace

Purpose: - The concept of second victim syndrome involves those health care providers that are involved in an unanticipated adverse event, patient injury or medical error. The provider becomes traumatized by this event due to an adverse outcome.
-We discuss how this syndrome can apply to the radiology workplace and the risk factors and symptoms.
- We discuss the importance of recognition and methods to provide emotional and peer support.

Methods/Materials: The term "second victim phenomenon" occurs in the healthcare setting, although not widely discussed in the radiology workplace. In the radiology workplace, it refers to a concept in healthcare that describes the emotional and psychological impact on healthcare providers, including radiologists, involved in an adverse event or medical error that harms a patient.
This phenomenon recognizes that healthcare providers, like radiologists, who remain dedicated to patient care, can be affected.

Results: Radiologists work in high pressure settings where critical decisions affect patient outcomes. Adverse events can result in various emotions such as anxiety, stress and guilt. Any adverse event can compromise the sense of professional competence and lead to feelings of inadequacy. This also results in fear of professional, peer and legal repercussions. This can lead to issues with providing patient care, feelings of isolation, and risk aversion. We discuss methods to recognize and provide support to those with this syndrome. We discuss support mechanisms such as peer support, counseling services and emotional support.

Conclusions: The second victim syndrome in radiology highlights the emotional and psychological impact on healthcare providers when they are involved in adverse events or medical errors. We discuss the importance of recognition of this syndrome in the radiology setting to promote patient safety and care of our radiologists.