Supporting Patients and Families

 

If you or a loved one has been involved in a medically induced trauma, you may experience immediate or delayed emotional effects such as:

·  Depressed mood, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure

·  Sleeping or eating difficulties

·  Drug or alcohol abuse

· Feelings of inadequacy and loneliness

· Loss of trust

· Perceived indifference from the caregivers

· Anger, guilt, frustration

· Inability to think or concentrate

· Recurrent images or thoughts of the event triggered by non-specific events

· Desire to connect with others experiencing similar trauma


*Medically Induced Trauma results from an adverse medical event that occurs during medical and/or surgical care.  An adverse event is an injury that is due to a medical intervention.  It may or may not be an error, but is an undesirable outcome that results from some aspect of diagnosis or treatment, not an underlying disease process.   Most importantly, these events affect the emotional well-being of the patient, family member, and/or clinician. 


It is important that patients and/or family members who have been effected be encouraged to speak to someone regarding the emotional impact.  It can be a counselor, psychologist, therapist, clergy, their doctor, etc...  Someone who can help them cope with what they are experiencing.