The Experience of Second Victims of Medical Errors Leading to Death or Permanent Complication: A Qualitative Study

Medical error causes severe emotional responses in health care providers and makes them second victims. This study aimed to explain the experience of second victims of medical mistakes leading to death or permanent complication.

This research was conducted with a qualitative approach and content analysis method in 2020. Using a purposeful sampling method, ten physicians and members of the medical team involved in medical errors leading to death or permanent complication were selected and interviewed. Data were analyzed by the conventional content analysis method with MAXQDA18 software.

Based on the analysis of the interviews, 156 initial codes, 48 sub-categories, 13 main categories, and finally, three main themes, including "Multiple reactions, Multiple effects, and Supportive system."

Understanding the experiences of second victims, including (multiple reactions, multiple effects, and supportive systems) can help to understand this phenomenon better and help design a comprehensive support program to eliminate and reduce the negative consequences and increase the sense of security them