Living Through Litigation: Malpractice Stress Syndrome

Medical malpractice stress syndrome can cause a range of emotions and exacerbate physical disorders. The feeling of lost personal integrity cannot be appeased only by exoneration of those acquitted of charges, but the emotional toll of litigation stress can be mitigated by education in the legal process, developing trustful relationships with the legal team, using support teams or life coaches, and participating in regular physical activity. Sharing a personal story with other defendant nurses, learning effective ways of communicating, and developing healthy coping skills allow the nurse to heal emotionally and come to terms with the lawsuit as a learning experience as discussed in this article.