Mayo native hails White House sepsis event a victory for campaigners
A MAYO native and his wife were key figures at a historic event hosted by the White House to address the issue of sepsis, which kills millions of people around the world every year.
Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton have been leading the charge to end sepsis following the death of their 12-year-old son, Rory, in 2012, from undiagnosed, untreated sepsis.
In a major victory for campaigners in the United States, the White House hosted its first ever event solely dedicated to the issue of sepsis.
Sepsis is a major public health crisis, killing 350,000 Americans annually and leaving hundreds of thousands of survivors with life changing disabilities.
Orlaith Staunton, founder and executive director of End Sepsis, delivered opening remarks on behalf of patients and families. End Sepsis is the leading sepsis advocacy organisation, driving a comprehensive federal response to sepsis.
The event brought together health leaders from state health departments, advocates, physicians, researchers and administration officials in an effort to serve as a call to action to all those who can play a part in reducing sepsis mortality and morbidity and driving hospital, state and national solutions to the sepsis crisis.
“This event is a major victory for the sepsis families who have campaigned to have the White House become more proactive on an issue that kills 350,000 Americans annually.
"We have intensely lobbied the current and past two administrations to do this; we are gratified that our hard work has finally borne fruit,” said Ciaran Staunton, co-founder of End Sepsis, who is a native of Louisburgh.
As well as discussing how to elevate best practices and build momentum for continued public and private sector action around early diagnosis and treatment, the event also reviewed current state-based sepsis programmes, including Rory’s Regulations in New York, the nation’s first and most effective mandatory protocol requirement.
Rory’s Regulations was implemented in 2013 and named for Rory Staunton. The protocols saved 16,000 lives in their first four years of operation.
End Sepsis, the legacy of Rory Staunton, is dedicated to eradicating the preventable deaths and life-altering disabilities caused by sepsis in the United States. By fostering public awareness, education, quality improvement and advocacy, and supporting affected families, End Sepsis leads the charge in implementing bold, action-oriented initiatives to safeguard families and combat this urgent public health crisis.
Their vision is a world where sepsis is universally recognised as a medical emergency, medical professionals are equipped to swiftly recognise and treat it and where individuals can identify its symptoms and confidently advocate for themselves and others.