Living Through Litigation: Malpractice Stress Syndrome

Ryll, Nancy A.

doi:10.1016/j.jradnu.2014.11.007

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Respondents reported emotions such as feeling under attack, powerless, angry and criminalised. We found some impact on physical and mental health, confirming the results of previous studies on the effect of medicolegal procedures on doctors’ health and functioning10 14 29–34 but the effect we found was relatively small compared with some other studies, such as by Bourne et al 10…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

How do doctors in the Netherlands perceive the impact of disciplinary procedures and disclosure of disciplinary measures on their professional practice, health and career opportunities? A questionnaire among medical doctors who received a disciplinary measure

et al. 2019

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IntroductionDisciplinary procedures can have serious consequences for the health, personal life and professional functioning of doctors. Until recently, specific disciplinary measures (reprimands) were publicly disclosed in the Netherlands. The perceived additional impact of disclosing reprimands on the professional and personal life of doctors is unclear.MethodsAll doctors who received a disciplinary measure from the Dutch Disciplinary Board between July 2012 and August 2016 were invited to partake in a 60-item questionnaire concerning the respondents’ characteristics, the complaint, experience with the procedure and perceived impact of the procedure on health and professional functioning as reported by doctors themselves. The response rate was 43% (n=210). 21.4% received a reprimand (disclosed); the remainder received a warning (not disclosed). Differences between the two groups were calculated.ResultsRespondents with a reprimand reported significantly more negative experiences and impact on health and work than respondents with a warning. 37.8% of the doctors said their health was very good. A small percentage reported moderate-to-severe depressive complaints (3.6%), moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder (2%) or indications of burnout (10.8%). The majority reported changes in their professional practices associated with ‘defensive medicine’, such as doing more supplementary research (41%) and complying more with patients’ wishes (35%).ConclusionThe Dutch disciplinary procedure has strong negative side effects, that disclosing measures seems to increase. Dutch disciplinary law aims to contribute to the quality of professional practice. A safe environment is a basic condition for quality improvement and therefore, disclosure of disciplinary measures should be carefully considered. Disclosure of disciplinary measures has always been controversial and the results of this study has rekindled this debate. Recently, a majority in the Dutch House of Representatives has voted against disclosure of reprimands, leaving disclosure of reprimands a discretion of the disciplinary board when deemed appropriate or necessary.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

How do doctors in the Netherlands perceive the impact of disciplinary procedures and disclosure of disciplinary measures on their professional practice, health and career opportunities? A questionnaire among medical doctors who received a disciplinary measure

et al. 2019

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“…Although no participants felt legal knowledge was important for the counsellor, they wanted to be emotionally supported through the legal process. Recognition that the legal process may be gruelling is given to professionals who are being litigated against, and who often have the full weight of the healthcare provider's legal teams to support them, but this is rarely the case for individual litigants unless they are part of a larger claim (Peyman et al., 2017; Ryll, 2015). An imbalance of power often leaves patients that have been harmed feeling vulnerable and so the perceived inequality and unfairness of the system is almost inevitably something that will emerge in the counselling room.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The needs of clients coming to counselling following second harm: A Q methodology study

Kenward

Whiffin

Townend

2021

Couns and Psychother Res

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Second harm is the added psychological distress from an inadequate response by healthcare providers in response to medical errors or neglect. This inadequate response may require patients to seek counselling. The counselling needs of patients who have experienced second harm have received limited research attention. This Q methodology study addresses this gap in knowledge in order to further inform counselling practice. Methods Participants sorted 42 pre‐determined statements online followed by interviews to establish the rationale for the sorting pattern choices. Data from the online sort were analysed using factor analysis to establish the viewpoints expressed. The interview data added to the interpretation of the viewpoints. Findings Through a factor analysis, two ‘viewpoints’ and 11 counselling needs were identified. Nine of these needs were generic to the counselling relationship and two specific to second harm. This study concluded that people seeking counselling following second harm have needs beyond those expected from a general counselling relationship. These included not being blamed for what happened and a need for the counsellor to be able to demonstrate that they are able to understand the impact of harm. Implications for practice The needs identified in this study as being generic can give counsellors confidence in working with clients that have experienced second harm, knowing that many of the needs identified are not unique. Counsellors can also be confident that those needs that are unique can be understood through extending their knowledge of the topic and listening to those that have been harmed.

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“…The results of their study also indicate that the half-life of emotional impact of litigation extends into several years. Charles (2001) describes this reaction as Malpractice Stress Syndrome (MSS) and parallels between MSS and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were drawn by Ryll (2015). It is imperative that psychologists who have faced a professional charge against them, should be assisted in the process of coping.…”

Section: Professional Charges Against Psychologistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meaning making after malpractice complaints against psychologists: Losing the battle, winning the war

2024

Psychological Applications and Trends 2024

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Living Through Litigation: Malpractice Stress Syndrome

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

How do doctors in the Netherlands perceive the impact of disciplinary procedures and disclosure of disciplinary measures on their professional practice, health and career opportunities? A questionnaire among medical doctors who received a disciplinary measure

How do doctors in the Netherlands perceive the impact of disciplinary procedures and disclosure of disciplinary measures on their professional practice, health and career opportunities? A questionnaire among medical doctors who received a disciplinary measure

The needs of clients coming to counselling following second harm: A Q methodology study

Meaning making after malpractice complaints against psychologists: Losing the battle, winning the war

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