Second Victims

One morning in the stroke unit, the senior physician tells a medical joke: “What's the difference between God and us? God knows he's not a doctor.” The camera immediately starts to follow confident neurologist Alexandra. She diagnoses an elderly woman with a stroke and initiates the routine life-saving measures. But she sends 18-year-old Oliver home; he has severe headaches and she ignores the warnings of inexperienced assistant doctor Emilie about his neck stiffness. Shortly afterwards, the boy suffers severe epileptic seizures and is eventually declared brain dead. The hectic hospital routine thus ends in tragedy. At the centre of it all is Alexandra, who faces bitter accusations from the boy’s parents and recriminations from her colleagues. Above all, though, she struggles desperately with the question of her own guilt. All this is told with great intsensity against the backdrop of a healthcare system that is overburdened by austerity measures and understaffing.