Recent reports from Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, and Maryland indicate ongoing challenges in patient safety and communication when it comes to medical errors that harm patients. The findings show that many patients are not informed when medical errors occur, and some hospitals continue to struggle with safety practices that could prevent medical errors.
Most Patients Harmed in Oregon Were Not Informed After Medical Errors
In Oregon, a 2025 report from the Oregon Patient Safety Commission found that nearly 30 percent of adults said they or someone close to them experienced a medical error, such as receiving the wrong medication or suffering a surgical complication. However, only about one-third of these patients were notified of the mistake and received an apology, while more than half said they were never informed at all.1
Only about 21 percent of hospitals received the highest safety grade from an industry watchdog in spring 2025. This represents a decline from 2020 and places the state in the bottom third nationally for hospital safety.2
Most of the reported errors occurred in hospitals (52 percent), while others took place in primary or specialty clinics (31 percent), urgent care centers (7 percent), and nursing homes (6 percent). While more than 90 percent of surveyed physicians agreed that medical errors should be disclosed to patients, the report noted that far fewer actually reported having these conversations. The commission recommended wider use of communication-and-resolution programs to support transparency.3
Louisiana Hospital Receives Low Safety Grade
In Louisiana, the Leapfrog Group’s 2024 national hospital safety report gave Lake Charles Memorial Hospital a D grade. The assessment pointed to issues in multiple categories, including infection control, accidental injuries during procedures, hand hygiene, medication-ordering systems, patient discharge communication, and staffing. Leapfrog’s safety grades are intended to offer the public accessible information about hospital safety and encourage facilities to address identified concerns.4
Maryland Reports Fourth Year of Rising Serious Medical Errors
In Maryland, hospitals reported their fourth consecutive year of increases in serious medical errors, according to a report by the Maryland Department of Health.5 The state recorded 957 adverse medical events in 2023, including 808 events that resulted in death or serious disability, a five percent increase from the previous year. Among the most commonly reported events were pressure injuries that developed during hospital stays, patient falls, which increased by 22 percent, and delays in treatment connected to communication or staffing challenges. State health officials cited workforce shortages and ongoing strain following the COVID-19 pandemic as factors affecting patient care.6
Anna Palmisano, a microbiologist who leads the advocacy group Marylanders for Patient Rights, said the report’s findings reflect serious ongoing problems in Maryland’s health care system. She stated:
I find it horrifying to learn that so many people suffered deaths and serious disabilities that could have been prevented by Maryland hospitals making patient safety a bigger priority. The report understates the problem of chronic understaffing in hospitals, which is at the heart of patient safety. Systems analyses are fine, but they seem to be a way to avoid focusing on the critical issue of safe staffing.7
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Click here to view References:1 Nanguneri S. Health care providers failed to inform most victims of medical error in Oregon, report says. Oregon Capital Chronicle Sept. 19, 2025.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Cunningham J. One Louisiana Hospital Gets “D” Safety Grade in Latest Report. KPEL Apr. 3, 2025.
5 Maryland Department of Health. Maryland Hospital Patient Safety Program Annual Report State Fiscal Year 2023. Sept. 12, 2025.
6 Bonk V. Another year, another rise: Maryland hospitals see 4th consecutive year of medical error spikes. WTOP Sept. 14, 2025.
7 Shepherd K. Medical errors causing death, other problems rising in Maryland, report says. The Washington Post Sept. 12, 2025.
2 Responses
I also think a big part of the problem is that staff to not care, really care about their patients.
I was in the hospital for 100 days, and most of what I heard from staff is “we don’t have time to take care of your every need. My shift ends in two hours and I want to go do my paperwork.” or ” you don’t see any staff. When you call for help, no one comes. Someone answers and asks what you need, you tell them and you never see them. So, you call again, then eventually they come in with an attitude. If these ‘professionals’ acted like professionals,
there might not be so many mistakes. While five nurses are gathered around the doorway chatting about their last date or their horrible husband, the patient is in need, and they only look away. Doctors rush in your room, look at you and give their opintion. No exam, no touching the patient. (well, sometimes they listen to your heart) Just in and out so fast the patient doesn’t even get a chance to ask questions.
This along side medication mistakes. During my time in the hospital as a patient, there were 37 mistakes on meds for me. 37. That is way bad. When my husband was in hosptial, he was in for five days. Out of those five days, there were 4 med mix ups, once they wanted to wheel him off for a surgery he wasn’t in for and being sent home w infections. Need better training, need to get rid of dei applicants, safty of patients should be first.
Isn’t their an oath… “first, do no harm?”
It good to have access to that information when choosing a hospital.
we need more information.
like mis diagnostics, treatment options, adverse reactions.
basic total health outcomes.