Peer-reviewed article
Grief and Burnout in the PICU.
Doctors and nurses who work in PICUs often deal with emotionally difficult events. These events take a toll. They can cause long-term psychological problems that, if not addressed, can impair the ability of doctors and nurses to care for…
Doctors and nurses who work in PICUs often deal with emotionally difficult events. These events take a toll. They can cause long-term psychological problems that, if not addressed, can impair the ability of doctors and nurses to care for patients in a competent and compassionate manner. Furthermore, effective treatment is available. But there is a paradox. To get treatment, one must acknowledge the problem. Acknowledgment of the problem may not be encouraged, or may be discouraged and stigmatized, in the intensive care culture. This article describes a case in which a physician has classic signs of overwhelming grief and burnout, and it discusses the appropriate response.
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About the author
John D. Lantos is a pediatrician and bioethicist writing on AI in medicine, neonatal intensive care, and end-of-life decisions. His essays appear in JAMA, JAMA Pediatrics, the Hastings Center Report, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Aeon. Read more about John.