About a year ago, I joined Patients For Patient Safety Canada at the request of my cancer mentor, Robin, who was a longstanding member. We are a grassroots organization (but under the auspices of WHO) of people who have experienced unsafe incidents in healthcare, who are dedicated to preventing unsafe medical encounters and raising awareness of the issues and giving patients a voice. We have just revamped our website at:  www.patients4safety.ca We are not an agency that helps harmed patients pursue litigation or make complaints to professional colleges; rather, we engage organizations such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, government, medical schools, etc to raise awareness of safety issues and raise standards of practice from the perspective of the patient. Giving a voice to those who feel voiceless in the complexity of the healthcare system is our focus.

An example from my own experience happened before I joined PFPSC. During my cancer treatment, I was routinely subjected to examinations first by student, then resident, and then doctor. Those examinations hurt, every time. Once I didn’t feel up to the entourage and asked to skip it, but was told that I didn’t have a choice. That motivated me to take up this issue with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. I found in my research that ALL other English speaking countries required consent for patient participation in medical education, and I gave the College proof. In Canada, only BC gave patients the right to refuse at that time. The College listened to my arguments, took them seriously, and asked for public input on the issue. Now, Policy #26, Professional Requirements in Medical Education, has a new consent section. Patients can still opt to be seen by students, but we can also refuse on any given day without repercussions. (Another interesting fact: until 10 years ago, it was considered acceptable to perform a pelvic examination on an anesthetized woman without her consent or knowledge. This practice was reported by the Globe and Mail, and subsequently ruled as “battery” by then Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin. Again, this was happening in other countries, and it underscores why patients need a voice.)

I am posting this just prior to Patient Safety Week, October 28 - November 1. Did you know that Toronto’s University Health Network estimates that there are over 30,000 deaths every year in Canada due to medical error? (This is similar to other developed countries!) It is a shocking stat that is unknown to most people. Mistakes happen because healthcare professionals work in complex systems - mistakes are sometimes an unfortunate result. In the aftermath of Covid and the resulting disarray of our healthcare, it is even more important to raise awareness of patient safety.

I invite you to have a look at our website www.patients4safety.ca and consider the issues raised there. This particular website pertains to Canada, but I know that similar patient advocacy organizations exist in other countries as well. Thanks for reading.

Laurie