Objective: Physicians inevitably observe adverse patient outcomes, including death. When these events occur, physicians may be prone to feelings of undeserved guilt. Such feelings may lead to moral injury and contribute to burnout and suicide. We examine examples of physician guilt in television and movies and identify examples of cognitive distortions to help readers gain insight into their own potential feelings of guilt.
Methods: Searches on Google and ChatGPT were performed for "movies + physician guilt," "television + physician guilt," and "popular media + physician trauma." Results were reviewed for 5 cognitive distortions derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy. Additional media examples were added from the authors' own knowledge base. Of the 4 movies and 6 television episodes found with examples of physician guilt, 7 were chosen and considered through the lens of cognitive distortions.
Results: Multiple examples of cognitive distortions were found that can derive from and contribute to feelings of guilt in physicians. Systemically deconstructing and identifying these distortions can allow one to challenge and replace them with more accurate thoughts, a process known as cognitive restructuring. Looking for examples in popular media is a resource for doing so, since it allows physicians to view situations similar to those that they experience from the perspective of a third party.
Conclusion: Comparing thoughts and feelings to characters in media can help us understand feelings of undeserved guilt. This can inform physicians' self-reflection, allowing them to consider and mitigate difficult experiences, thoughts, and feelings that may otherwise adversely affect wellness.
Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2025;27(5):24m03905.
Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.
© Copyright 2025 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.