Emotional harm from disrespect: the neglected preventable harm

open access - patient safety

To date, the patient safety movement has focused primarily on physical injury, but definitions of harm in healthcare are much broader:5 any ‘outcome that negatively affects the patient's health and/or quality of life’.6 When asked about consequences of adverse events, patients emphasise emotional harm more than physical harm.7 Emotional harms can erode trust, leave patients feeling violated and damage patient–provider relationships.8 ,9 Such injuries can be severe and long lasting, with adverse effects on physical health.10 Failures to acknowledge and systematically address these harms ensure that they continue......