**Title: Over 153,000 Canadians Affected by Hospital Errors in 2024-2025**

A recent study reveals that more than 153,000 Canadians experienced potentially preventable harm during hospital stays in 2024-2025. This figure represents one in 17 hospitalizations, highlighting ongoing issues in patient safety two decades after a pivotal report on medical errors in Canada. The data, compiled by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), indicates that many patients suffered multiple incidents of harm during their hospital visits.

The study analyzed 2.6 million hospital stays, revealing that a quarter of those harmed experienced two or more adverse events. These events included drug errors, hospital-acquired infections, and patient accidents such as falls or radiation burns. However, the report does not account for near misses—errors that did not reach patients—or harms related to mental health or substance use. Additionally, incidents occurring in emergency departments or those that go undetected until after discharge are not included. Notably, data from Quebec is also excluded from this report.

The overall rate of harm has remained steady at six percent for the fifth consecutive year, which is higher than the rates observed before the COVID-19 pandemic. Melanie Josee Davidson, CIHI's director of health system performance, noted that the healthcare system is still recovering from the pandemic's impact. "The whole health system is still reverberating from the COVID period and still finding its feet," she said.

Experts attribute the ongoing issues to a combination of complex factors. Dr. Ward Flemons, a professor of medicine at the University of Calgary, emphasized that despite the initial wake-up call from the Baker-Norton report, which estimated that 23,000 Canadians die annually from adverse events in hospitals, the focus on patient safety has diminished over time. "There was a lot of focus on patient safety, but, like any initiative, it fades over time if there isn’t a constant pounding of the drum," he stated.

Canada remains one of the few countries without a national patient safety plan, leading to fragmented and mostly voluntary efforts to improve hospital safety. Baker and co-author Leslee Thompson described the situation as akin to a game of snakes and ladders, where progress is often reversed due to shifting priorities and insufficient resources. They also highlighted a culture of secrecy that prevents full disclosure of errors to patients and families, stating, "The extent of unsafe care is unknown to patients and the workforce."

In 2024-2025, the most common types of harm included electrolyte and fluid imbalances, urinary tract infections, delirium, pneumonia, aspiration pneumonitis, and post-surgical infections. Patients who experienced harm stayed in the hospital an average of 28 days, compared to six days for those who did not. This extended stay not only occupies critical hospital beds but also significantly increases costs, with an average hospitalization costing nearly $10,000, while the cost for those who experience harm is approximately $45,000.

The data also revealed that men were slightly more likely than women to experience harm, and urban hospitals reported a higher rate of incidents compared to rural facilities. Delirium, affecting over 21,600 patients, is often overlooked despite being a serious condition that can lead to dementia and death. Dr. Flemons noted that delirium often results from a combination of factors, including unfamiliar environments and disrupted sleep.

To mitigate these risks, experts recommend careful monitoring of medications and fluid balances, as well as ensuring patients can safely swallow food. Falls, which account for most patient accidents, often occur during care processes rather than from patients getting out of bed.

CIHI does not track deaths related to hospital harm, as the study is based on discharge data. Davidson emphasized the importance of communication for patients and their families, encouraging them to ask questions about their care and to speak up if something feels wrong.

The need for transparency in reporting errors is critical, according to experts. Dr. Flemons recounted a tragic incident involving a drug mix-up that resulted in the deaths of two patients, underscoring the importance of openly discussing errors to foster a culture of safety. He called for a renewed focus on patient safety, urging a return to the concerted efforts seen after the Baker-Norton report, and emphasized the need for data to be analyzed at local levels to drive meaningful change in healthcare practices.