Critical Events in Hospital Environments-A Goffman-Inspired Thematic Analysis of the Danish Feature Film Second Victims.

Critical events frequently occur in hospital settings. Cinematic portrayals of medicine and medical environments can illuminate historical developments and perspectives on healthcare, medical professions, and specialisations. This article aimed to explore the interplay between structural framework, professional, and relational factors when facing critical events and their management in a hospital environment. Based on the Danish feature film Second Victims, a thematic analysis was conducted, methodically inspired by Braun and Clarke, theoretically inspired by Goffman. The findings were presented in three final themes: Notions of knowledge and power hierarchies in motion, Tensions between the medical and legal logics, and The moral dance around professionals' suffering. The findings showed how the patient appeared as 'the primary victim,' while the professionals and relatives became 'the second victims'. In this fictive film, the hospital culture was informed by an ideal of medical flawlessness that created vulnerable conditions for professionals, infused with guilt and shame. Furthermore, the professionals' emotional reactions intensified critical situations and acted yet another critical event. The findings also showed tension areas between medical and legal prerequisites and consequences related to medical decisions, illuminating how medical care fits in a wider societal context and structure governed by context specific rules and regulations. In conclusion, the study demonstrated how structural, professional, and relational factors shape the management of critical hospital events, highlighting hierarchies, roles, competing logics, and emotional responses. Although fictional, the film presented realistic representations of 'real-life' practice, offering a valuable tool for reflecting on healthcare practices and shared human vulnerability.