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Preventable medical errors that cause serious harm or death are on the rise. In a sobering new report, The Joint Commission has confirmed what many families already know firsthand: serious medical errors are on the rise. The just-released Sentinel Event Data 2024 Annual Review reveals a 12% increase in the number of sentinel events reported nationwide. These are not small mistakes. These are catastrophic errors that lead to death, permanent injury, or severe temporary harm.
As a Phoenix medical malpractice attorney, we have seen firsthand how devastating these preventable errors can be. At our Phoenix medical malpractice law firm, we represent victims of these preventable tragedies. This post explores the key findings from the Joint Commission’s report, explains why these events happen, and offers guidance for patients and families. If you or a loved one has been harmed, know that you are not alone—and there are steps you can take.
The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as:
“A patient safety event (not primarily related to the natural course of illness) that reaches the patient and results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm.”
These include:
Sentinel events demand immediate investigation and response from healthcare institutions. Yet, despite protocols and policies, these devastating errors continue to happen at alarming rates.
Total Sentinel Events Reported: 1,575
Increase from 2023: 12%
Patient Outcomes (in order of severity):
Despite the gravity of these events, reporting is voluntary. That means the real numbers are likely even higher. As we previously reported, preventable medical errors cause at least 400,000 deaths every year.
Here are the most frequently reported types of sentinel events last year:
| Rank | Event Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patient falls | 776 | 49% |
| 2 | Wrong surgery (site, patient, procedure, implant) | 127 | 8% |
| 3 | Delay in treatment | 126 | 8% |
| 4 | Suicide/self-inflicted injury | 122 | 8% |
| 5 | Unintended retention of a foreign object | 119 | 8% |
| 6 | Assault/rape/sexual assault/homicide | 65 | 4% |
| 7 | Fire/burns | 45 | 3% |
| 8 | Severe maternal morbidity | 32 | 2% |
| 9 | Medication errors | 29 | 2% |
| 10 | Self-harm | 23 | 1% |
Falls accounted for nearly half (49%) of all sentinel events in 2024. This marks a dramatic rise from just 18% in 2019.
Injuries from falls included:
Most affected patients: Those aged 70 and older (56% of falls).
Common fall scenarios:
Why do these falls happen?
Wrong surgeries rose 13% over 2023, totaling 127 sentinel events in 2024.
Breakdown:
Examples include:
Outcomes:
Leading causes:
The wrong surgery data reported by the Joint Commission is grossly under representative of the actual numbers. In Arizona alone, our medical malpractice attorneys evaluated more than 100 surgical mishaps last year.
Reported cases of treatment delays surged 56% over the previous year, reaching 126 events.
60% resulted in patient death.
Delays in treatment include:
Ten reported sentinel events in this category were attributed to delayed recognition/notification/response to concerning cardiac rhythm.
Main problems:
These are often simple errors with tragic consequences.
Across all event types, the most common contributors include:
As the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported:
“Catastrophic safety events, like medication errors, are almost never caused by isolated errors committed by individuals. Most adverse events result from a series of circumstances in environments with underlying system flaws and failure points….
As noted in the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, culture, leadership and governance are foundational for advancing patient safety.”
In other words, these are basic, preventable problems that reveal breakdowns in healthcare systems. Those system failures start with leadership and governance. Most medical malpractice incidents are not isolated events.
You can help prevent sentinel events by:
Your voice matters. Speak up.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a sentinel event or other form of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation. Our medical malpractice attorney investigates cases involving:
We can help you pursue justice and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.
You shouldn’t have to suffer because a hospital cut corners or failed to follow safety rules.
Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation.
Let’s work together to make hospitals safer—and to get you the justice you deserve.
Sources:
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