When patients hurt us

Abstract

In this thoughtful article, medical educators in various stages of their careers (resident, mid-career clinician-educators, medical school deans) reflect upon increasing reports of harassment and mistreatment of trainees by patients. In addition to providing a general overview of the limited literature on this topic, the authors describe their own experience collecting information on trainee mistreatment by patients at their institution. They explore the universal difficulty that educators face regarding how to best address this mistreatment and support both faculty and trainees. Given the current sociopolitical climate, there has never been a more urgent need to critically examine this issue. The authors call on the greater medical education community to join them in these important conversations.