Moral Injury in Health Care: Identification and Repair in the COVID-19 Era

Amanda Rosen; Jonathan M Cahill; Lydia S Dugdale

doi:10.1007/s11606-022-07761-5

Moral Injury in Health Care: Identification and Repair in the COVID-19 Era

J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Nov;37(14):3739-3743. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07761-5. Epub 2022 Aug 15.

Authors

Amanda Rosen¹, Jonathan M Cahill², Lydia S Dugdale³

Affiliations

¹ Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, 622 W 168th St, PH9-113A, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
² Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, 622 W 168th St, PH 8E-105, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
³ Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, 622 W 168th St, PH 8E-105, New York, NY, 10032, USA. lsd2134@cumc.columbia.edu.

Abstract

Frontline health-care workers experienced moral injury long before COVID-19, but the pandemic highlighted how pervasive and damaging this psychological harm can be. Moral injury occurs when individuals violate or witness violations of deeply held values and beliefs. We argue that a continuum exists between moral distress, moral injury, and burnout. Distinguishing these experiences highlights opportunities for intervention and moral repair, and may thwart progression to burnout.

Publication types

Editorial
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Burnout, Professional* / psychology
COVID-19*
Delivery of Health Care
Health Personnel / psychology
Humans
Morals
Pandemics
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy

Grants and funding

T32 HS026121/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States