Burnout crisis: 1 in 10 ER doctors leave specialty, study finds

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal paints a dire picture of burnout among emergency room physicians across Canada, revealing that nearly half have reduced their clinical hours and one in ten has left the specialty entirely. The survey of 410 emergency medicine doctors conducted in 2025 found that 48% had cut back on clinical work, while 20% had taken time off from emergency medicine. The findings underscore a deepening crisis in Canadian emergency departments, where physicians report overwhelming workloads, systemic failures, and a sense of hopelessness about the future.

A System Under Strain

The study, which surveyed physicians from all provinces and the Northwest Territories, found that 65% of respondents scored high for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization—a feeling of detachment from one’s own thoughts and body—or both. Researchers identified three key drivers of burnout: a broken health care system, unrealistic societal expectations, and insurmountable workplace challenges. Co-author Dr. Kerstin de Wit, an emergency physician at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Queen’s University professor, said participants repeatedly described the health care system as fundamentally broken. “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,” she said. Many doctors expressed that the future of emergency medicine felt hopeless, with no possibility of recovery.

Burnout Hits Women and Younger Doctors Hardest

The study highlighted that women and younger physicians reported higher levels of burnout. Those who had already reduced their hours also experienced greater burnout, suggesting a vicious cycle. The median age of participants was 41, with 54% working in Ontario, 14% in Quebec, and 10% in British Columbia. Emergency physicians frequently said they felt blamed for wider health system problems, which they found demoralizing. The study noted that extremely high patient volumes, long wait times, and the need to treat patients in corridors and waiting rooms contributed to substandard care and heightened stress.

Consequences: Reduced Hours and Exodus from the Specialty

The findings build on previous research showing that Canadian doctors across specialties are struggling. In 2025, the Canadian Medical Association reported high rates of burnout and depression among physicians five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The new study provides granular data on emergency medicine specifically, showing that 10% of respondents had already left the specialty and 48% reduced clinical hours—a trend that threatens to exacerbate ER overcrowding. Dr. de Wit said that physicians pointed to lack of primary care to follow up with patients, reduced access to specialist appointments, and long waits as additional challenges.

Looking Ahead: A Call for Systemic Change

The study’s authors emphasize that individual coping strategies are not enough; systemic changes are needed to address the root causes. These include improving access to primary care, increasing resources for emergency departments, and reducing administrative burdens. Without such reforms, the exodus of emergency physicians may accelerate, leaving the system further strained. Dr. de Wit and her colleagues hope the study prompts policymakers to act before the situation becomes irreversible. For now, many emergency doctors continue to struggle, caught between their commitment to patients and the toll the system takes on their own health.