Preventable bed sore contributed to this man's painful death, and they're on the rise

WARNING: This story contains a graphic photo and disturbing details

Kelly O'Leary can't shake the feeling that the excruciating pain of her father's death could have been prevented. 

Ken O'Leary, 87, of Burlington, Ont., died last February with a bed sore at the base of his spine, after a stay at Joseph Brant Hospital. His daughter describes it as "the size of an avocado."

"It haunts me," said Kelly. "It haunts our whole family. Because we could have done something, but [the hospital] didn't tell us."

Ken was one of more than 4,000 people per year who develop bed sores — also called pressure injuries or pressure ulcers — while in hospital, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). 

They occur when prolonged pressure on a body part cuts off blood supply to the skin for more than two to three hours, injuring the skin and underlying tissue. The open wounds, which can lead to serious infection and even death, are best prevented by regularly repositioning patients, a job that typically falls to the often-overworked nursing staff.

Experts say the number of reported bed sores is far below the actual number, as many hospitals don't accurately track and report them. They also fear the number of cases will rise as Canada's population ages and more people become less mobile — though anyone at any age can develop bed sores.

"Even a young, healthy adult who's in a motor vehicle accident, patients in ICU, our spinal cord population, anybody who has diabetes," said Kimberly LeBlanc, a registered nurse and expert who sits on the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. 

"We need to put more emphasis on prevention." 

A hospital spokesperson declined an interview, but in an email to Go Public said Ken's case had been reviewed. 

The review underscored the importance of clear communication with families but also said staff were confident that he received "appropriate treatment and care" and that no changes to policies or procedures were necessary.

Ken was admitted to hospital in September 2021, after exhibiting some aggressive behaviour linked to dementia. He and his family thought it would be a short stay.

"He was pretty fit," said Kelly. "And he thought he was still pretty cool. He would wear his ball cap backwards and his muscle shirts. And at 87, he was pretty happening." 

But Ken deteriorated quickly. Medical records show he was often heavily sedated and too drowsy to move much. Within weeks, he was bedbound.