A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on July 27, 2026, reveals that 10 percent of Canadian emergency room physicians have left their specialty, driven by severe burnout and a dysfunctional healthcare system.
The nationwide research surveyed 410 emergency medicine doctors across Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territories between November 2022 and January 2025.
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Nearly half of the respondents reduced their clinical hours, while 20 percent took time off to recover from workplace demands.
Female physicians and younger practitioners reported the highest burnout rates, with 65 percent of all participants scoring high for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, or both.
Systemic Issues Driving Exodus
Researchers highlighted that systemic overcrowding, extensive wait times, and lack of primary care support significantly contributed to physician attrition.
Kerstin de Wit, an emergency physician at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and professor at Queen's University, detailed the overwhelming pressure facing medical personnel.
“The prevailing theme was that the health-care system is broken,” de Wit said.
The study found that 41 respondents had completely exited emergency medicine, with 25 moving to other medical fields, 10 retiring, and six quitting clinical practice entirely.
“We found repeated references to the emergency department making up for system inadequacies, with fewer resources and little support, and the expectation that the situation will worsen,” de Wit added.
Long waiting periods have generated severe consequences for patient care across Canada, with 10 percent of admitted ER patients spending over 48 hours waiting for a bed in recent years.
