Medical care is intended to heal, not harm. Yet according to newly released data from The Joint Commission, preventable medical mistakes continue to increase across the country. In 2024 alone, reported Sentinel Events, the most serious patient safety incidents, increased 13 percent from the previous year. Many of these tragic outcomes, including death, permanent harm, and severe injury, could have been avoided with better communication and basic safety measures.
What Are Sentinel Events?
Sentinel events are defined as patient safety incidents resulting in severe temporary harm, permanent harm, or death. Sentinel events are not classified as minor mistakes. They are considered serious, often catastrophic errors that signal a significant breakdown in the medical standard of care.
Despite years of awareness and increased patient safety initiatives, the number of sentinel events continues to increase. The Top Ten Sentinel Events of 2024, ranked by frequency reported to The Joint Commission, were:
- Patient falls
- Wrong-site surgery, procedure, or patient
- Delay in treatment
- Suicide
- Unintended retention of a foreign object
- Assault, rape, sexual assault, and homicide
- Fire and burns
- Severe maternal morbidity
- Medication management errors
- Self-harm
Two Notable Increases of 2024
- Surgical Errors: Surgeries performed on the wrong site (68%), wrong patient (12%), or the wrong procedure entirely (11%), increased by 13 percent in 2024. More than half (56%) were performed on the wrong side of the body. Sadly, these events are particularly egregious because they are entirely preventable with proper verification and teamwork.
- Patient Falls: Patient falls remain the most frequent type of sentinel event for the sixth straight year. In 2024, falls accounted for 49% of all events reviewed by The Joint Commission, a staggering increase from just 18% in 2019. While some patients may have existing fall risks, hospitals and care facilities have a duty to monitor, assist, and protect them. Falls are not always accidents; they may be signs of neglect.
Each sentinel event represents a failure in patient safety, and for many families, a devastating life event.
How Do Sentinel Events Occur?
Sentinel events are rarely the result of unusual illnesses or unforeseeable complications. More often, they are the product of breakdowns in basic processes, typically failures that could have been avoided with better communication, stronger teamwork, and strict adherence to safety protocols. Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Communication Failures: Miscommunication during shift changes, unclear verbal orders, and incomplete documentation can all lead to critical oversights. In high-pressure healthcare environments, even a small misunderstanding can cause a life-changing mistake.
- Poor Teamwork: Patient care is a collaborative effort. When team members fail to coordinate effectively, whether between nurses and doctors or across departments, errors are more likely to occur.
- Failure to Follow Procedures: Hospitals and surgical centers have detailed policies in place for a reason. These include time-outs before surgery, double-checks on medication dosages, fall-risk protocols, and emergency response plans. When these are skipped or ignored, the margin for error disappears.
In many cases, the systems to prevent harm already exist, but staff may rush, cut corners, or become complacent. These are not flaws in the medical science itself, but in the delivery of care.
Preventing sentinel events does not require groundbreaking technology or new procedures. It requires consistency, accountability, and a culture of safety that prioritizes the patient at every step.
When Do Medical Errors Become Malpractice?
Not every medical error qualifies as malpractice, but when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care and causes serious harm, it may be grounds for legal action. Sentinel events often reflect this level of failure. They are severe, preventable, and deeply affect patients’ lives and their families.
Medical malpractice claims are as much about accountability as compensation. Ensuring that healthcare providers take responsibility for the harm caused and push for safer practices in the future.
Harmed by a Healthcare Professional? Washington, D.C. Medical Malpractice Lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates Can Help
If you believe a preventable medical error caused serious harm, you deserve answers. Our skilled Washington, D.C. medical malpractice lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates are here to help you understand your legal rights and take the next steps toward accountability and recovery. Call 202-223-4488 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Washington, D.C., we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas, including Northern Virginia and Maryland.
