Have you ever left a hospital less satisfied than when you arrived?
Not from the illness itself. From the way you were treated.
Medical trauma exists. It’s more prevalent than you think. When something goes wrong during your care. Whether it be misdiagnosis, rushed surgery or surgery errors/negligence. It leaves a scar on your mind as well as body.
The good news?
You can heal. However, you must first know precisely what you are fighting.
Sometimes, the injury isn’t the result of an accident at all. Instead, it could have happened due to a breach of the standard of care . That’s when a doctor or hospital doesn’t do what a reasonable, competent provider would have done in the same situation. If that mistake causes real injury, talking to a medical malpractice lawyer can help you figure out if something illegal happened. A breach of standard of care can cause deep emotional scars that remain long after physical injuries have healed.
The statistics are staggering. A report by Johns Hopkins suggests that 795,000 Americans die or are permanently injured by diagnostic errors annually.
That is not a small problem. That is a public health crisis.
What you’ll take away:
Medical trauma describes your response to a scary or harmful medical event.
Think about it…
Entrusting someone with your health and having that trust broken cuts deep. You may relive it over and over again. You may become afraid to return to the doctor. You may even start avoiding necessary care altogether.
This kind of trauma can show up after all sorts of events, including:
This is the part most people overlook… The wound isn’t always visible. Yet it’s just as legitimate as a broken bone. And sometimes takes much longer to heal.
Having a standard of care breached is one of the worst forms of medical trauma you can endure.
Why? Because it never had to happen in the first place.
Each doctor, nurse and hospital is held to a minimum standard of care. The standard simply means that they must do what any reasonable professional would do under the same circumstances. When they fail to meet that standard — and you are injured as a result — you may have a standard of care violation.
And the emotional fallout can be brutal. People who live through it often describe:
Bruises from betrayal hurt the worst. You weren’t just dealt a bad hand. Someone you trusted to have your back stabbed you, and that is difficult to forgive.
Here is something that might surprise you…
The body usually heals first. The mind takes much longer.
Trauma from your medical event can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — yes, the same thing people associate with war or severe car crashes. The American College of Surgeons reports that 20 to 40 percent of trauma survivors who have suffered injuries fight with high levels of PTSD or depression within one year of the incident.
Let that sink in for a second.
That isn’t weakness. That’s your brain functioning normally and responding to a legitimate threat. Warning signs you may experience include:
Nor is the patient the only victim. Families bear this burden as well. Over 200,000 patients are estimated to die each year in America from preventable medical errors — and behind each of those statistics is a family devastated by their own trauma.
So what can you actually do about it?
Recovery will have its ups and downs. These tips will help point you in the right direction.
You cannot heal from something you refuse to face.
Verbalizing your experience – either out loud or written down on paper – can be extremely therapeutic. It subconsciously signals to your brain that the danger is over and this memory can be processed.
You do not have to carry this alone.
A trauma-informed therapist can give you actual tools that will work for you. Tools such as CBT. Support groups are beneficial as well. There is immense comfort in hearing someone else say “me too” who completely understands your experience.
Confusion makes trauma so much worse. Clarity helps you take back control.
Ask for your complete medical records. Ask questions until you understand what happened. Understanding why you were hurt, especially if you think the standard of care was breached, is half the healing process.
Healing takes time, and that is perfectly okay.
Some days will feel like you are making progress. Other days will feel like you took three steps back. Be kind to yourself as you would to any friend who was experiencing this.
Medical trauma is serious. It does not have to ruin your life.
When a breach of the standard of care turns your healing environment into a source of trauma, it’s real — and so are your options for recovery. Your path forward won’t be about pretending that it never happened. It will be about acknowledging what happened, seeking appropriate support, and regaining your sense of safety one step at a time.
Take your time. Don’t try to do this by yourself. And never let anyone make you feel like your feelings aren’t legitimate.
You put your trust in the system before. Take the necessary steps and allow some time, you can learn to trust yourself again.
