The global fight for patient safety has reached a historic turning point in the United States, led by the relentless advocacy of an Irish couple from Louisburgh and Drogheda. Following a 14-year campaign, the Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis (SEPSIS) Act was reintroduced into the U.S. Congress in January 2026 with strong bipartisan support.
While the Act is currently a Bill awaiting formal enactment into federal law, its introduction represents a landmark achievement for the "END SEPSIS" campaign, founded by Ciarán and Órlaith Staunton after the tragic loss of their 12-year-old son, Rory, to preventable sepsis in 2012.
The SEPSIS Act: A Proposed National Mandate
If passed, the SEPSIS Act will revolutionise how the third leading cause of death in American hospitals is handled. Every year, 1.7 million Americans develop sepsis, resulting in over 350,000 deaths. Despite these staggering figures, many cases remain preventable with timely, evidence-based care.
The proposed Act directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to:
Dedicated Resources: Assign staff and funding specifically to combat sepsis at a national level.
National Education: Create programs to help hospitals adopt "best practice" protocols for rapid prevention and treatment.
Standardised Outcomes: Develop a national outcome measure to track survival rates and create a recognition program for hospitals that excel in sepsis care.
Congressional Accountability: Provide regular updates to Congress on progress toward reducing sepsis-related fatalities.
From 'Rory’s Regulations' to Federal Law
This federal Bill is the culmination of a movement that began with the passage of Rory’s Regulations in New York State in 2013. These were the first mandatory protocols in the U.S. to require every hospital to adopt evidence-based early intervention for sepsis.
Key features of Rory’s Regulations, which the new federal Act seeks to expand across all fifty states, include:
A Parents’ Bill of Rights: Empowering families with the right to be informed and involved in clinical decisions.
Pediatric-Specific Protocols: Recognising that children require specialised procedures, including the immediate communication of critical test results.
Proven Success: Since their adoption, Rory’s Regulations have reportedly saved over 16,000 lives in New York State alone.
Global Parallels: Martha’s Rule and Jess’s Rule
This U.S. movement mirrors significant patient safety initiatives we have seen closer to home. The core philosophy of Rory’s Regulations is remarkably similar to Martha’s Rule in the UK and the newly introduced Jess’s Rule for primary care.
Both Martha’s Rule and Rory’s Regulations were born from the same reality: those who know the patient best often notice clinical deterioration before it shows up in routine health measurements. Legislation like the SEPSIS Act seeks to formalise the "right to be heard" ensuring that a parent’s concern is treated as a critical clinical indicator.
Whelan Law continues to monitor these global developments as we advocate for similar, life-saving patient safety protocols within the Irish healthcare system.