Abandon the term "second victim." | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Abandon the term "second victim." | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

• Commentary
 
• Published March 2019

Abandon the term "second victim."

Clarkson MD, Haskell H, Hemmelgarn C, Skolnik PJ. BMJ. 2019;364:l1233.

The term "second victim," coined by Dr. Albert Wu, has engendered mixed responses from patients and health care professionals. This commentary raises concerns that the term negates the sense of responsibility for errors that result in harm and advocates for abandoning it.

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