Long patient queues in hospital waiting areas are a familiar scene in many Indian hospitals. Healthcare providers—including nurses, attendants, interns, surgeons, and consulting physicians—work continuously to provide care under high-pressure conditions. In such demanding environments, unintentional mistakes are sometimes unavoidable, and these can occasionally lead to malpractice suits against the treating clinician. But how does a clinician feel in these situations?
Do they feel hurt, anxious, or even disconnected from patient care? This article explores the emotional impact of malpractice claims on clinicians and how it may affect their professional practice. Physicians who have faced similar incidents often recall experiencing a range of intense emotions: anxiety, fear, frustration, remorse, self-doubt, anger, and shame—mostly negative feelings. Once a malpractice suit is filed, the…
