Shame, Guilt, and Medical Error in Ann Patchett's State of Wonder

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Physician Well-being
• Qualitative Analysis

Background:

• Medical errors profoundly impact clinicians, often termed "second victims."
• The emotional burden of medical mistakes on physicians, particularly shame and guilt, remains under-researched.
• Understanding these emotional responses is crucial for physician support and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the emotional experiences of shame and guilt in physicians following medical errors.
• To examine how literary works, specifically fiction and medical nonfiction, can illuminate these complex emotions.
• To analyze the relationship between medical error, shame, and guilt through literary case studies.

Main Methods:

• Literary analysis of Ann Patchett's novel *State of Wonder*.
• Examination of Danielle Ofri's autobiographical essay "Ashamed to Admit It" (from *What Doctors Feel*).
• Qualitative exploration of themes related to shame, guilt, and medical error in selected texts.

Main Results:

• Literary narratives offer valuable insights into the often-unspoken emotional toll of medical errors on physicians.
• Ann Patchett's *State of Wonder* portrays the internal conflict and emotional consequences of professional mistakes.
• Danielle Ofri's reflections provide a direct, autobiographical account of confronting and admitting medical error and associated shame.

Conclusions:

• Fiction and medical nonfiction serve as critical tools for understanding physician emotional responses to medical error.
• Acknowledging and exploring shame and guilt are vital steps in supporting "second victims" of medical mistakes.
• Further research into literary representations can enhance empathy and inform interventions for physician well-being.