Abstract
Moral challenges have clear impacts on physician well-being. The concept of moral injury emerged from work with combat veterans. Existing diagnostic categories did not adequately capture the psychological challenges and distress seen in soldiers returning from war. The concept of moral injury was later applied to augment the understanding of physician distress, with the aim of considering varying etiologies of the symptoms of distress seen in healthcare workers. Healthcare worker moral injury occurs when physicians are repeatedly asked to participate in or witness acts which are not in accordance with their personal moral compass. System changes which acknowledge these distinct drivers of physician distress will be needed to improve physician well-being and enhance individual self-resilience.
