My relationship with the healthcare professions commenced relatively early on in my life. When I was a teenager my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, she died an untimely death after experiencing two medically adverse incidents. This had a profound effect upon me but, regardless, I felt somehow compelled to pursue a career in healthcare, recognizing the fragility and vulnerability of the patient and an express desire to serve. I have been a ‘patient’ since a young age and have been the recipient of both exemplary and unfortunate healthcare experiences. My career as a licensed practical nurse was ended prematurely after I myself experienced a medically adverse event which rendered me incapable of continuing to serve as a nurse.
The road to recovery from the harm I have sustained has been long and arduous. My physical injury was compounded by a healthcare culture which, I would argue in my experience, ineffectively deals with medically adverse events. My journey to healing has stemmed from my ability to connect with, and advocate for, those who have a shared experience, those who wish to use their unfortunate and intimate experiences of medical harm and translate them into healthcare improvements; validating the experiences and preventing future harm. I implore us, as patients, to engage in the difficult and awkward conversations which, I believe, will lead to validate and legitimize our experiences, and collectively transform how safe healthcare in Canada is delivered.
Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in Canada. I know that each and every one of us involved in the PFPSC has a vested interest in working together with healthcare institutions to mitigate the risks of harm, raise awareness of the risks of medical harm, and work hard toward necessary changes to decrease the chances for medical harm. I sincerely look forward to being a part of positive transformation in our healthcare system and I look forward to doing it together.
