Adverse Event Effects

Adverse events do not only affect patients while they are in the hospital; many effects follow survivors home. In an online article entitled When Harm in the Hospital Follows You Home , a group of health care harm survivors discuss their experiences. Many describe symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, including flashbacks, insomnia, depression and anger. Many feel they were betrayed by the medical system they trusted, when their expectation of help changed to harm. Isolation and lack of trust are often the result. Health care providers can help these suffering patients by listening to them and sincerely apologizing for their harm. Hopefully, these patients can then start their journey back to repairing their emotional health.