“Superheroes? No, thanks.” Accepting vulnerability in healthcare professionals Morera, Dolores Delgado Rodríguez, Janet Lorenzo, Elena de Castro Peraza, María Elisa Delgado, Naira Stigma Burnout Healthcare In this commentary, we develop a conceptual proposal aimed to explain why a discourse of praise and admiration for healthcare professionals´ limitless dedication can trigger a general indifference to the burnout and suffering they experience. Ultimately, this can lead to the justification of the lack of resources dedicated to preventing these problems. We first start by pointing out the stigmatisation of healthcare professionals suffering from burnout and showing their vulnerability, highlighting the complex interactions that occur in the healthcare context and that increase the risk of perpetuating their suffering. Then, we appeal to the recognition of one’s own vulnerability as a key element towards the creation of a culture more focused on the duty of care for those who care for others. We conclude with several proposals for action to cope with burnout-related stigma, trying to change the superhuman image of health personnel and incorporating the vulnerability inherent to human beings. 2024-05-24T08:12:08Z 2024-05-24T08:12:08Z 2024-02-20 journal article Morera, D., Delgado, J., Lorenzo, E. et al. “Superheroes? No, thanks.” Accepting vulnerability in healthcare professionals. Hum Resour Health 22, 16 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-024-00899-9 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/92039 10.1186/s12960-024-00899-9 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional BioMed Central Ltd