About End Sepsis
END SEPSIS, the Legacy of Rory Staunton, was founded in 2013 as the Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention following the undiagnosed, untreated, and preventable death of 12-year-old Rory Staunton from sepsis.
 
END SEPSIS is a movement of families and individuals across America and the globe who demand better infection education and hospital safety measures to ensure there are no more needless deaths from sepsis, a preventable and treatable disease. 
 
Our work impacts millions of lives through our advocacy for mandatory sepsis protocols in hospitals.  We know that sepsis deaths are preventable and we are committed to challenging the federal government to support sepsis programs and keep families safe. 

The Foundation’s activities have been featured on The Today Show, NPR, the Dr. Oz Show, The New York Times, and People Magazine, exposing sepsis to over 40 million readers.

END SEPSIS, the Legacy of Rory Staunton, has successfully spearheaded the most aggressive public battles to end sepsis and is the single source of cutting-edge, action-based initiatives to keep our families safe and end this public health emergency.

Main Areas of Work

Awareness to increase understanding of the dangers and signs of sepsis, promote rapid treatment, and encourage self-advocacy in the medical environment.

Education so that every school-age child in the country understands the science and signs of sepsis and the importance of infection prevention.

Sepsis Protocols to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in hospitals and other medical settings.

Support for families affected by sepsis.

Key Successes to Date.

  • The establishment of mandatory sepsis protocols, known as Rory’s Regulations, in New York State in 2013 resulting in a 40% reduction in pediatric sepsis deaths and more than 5,000 adults’ lives saved in the first two years of operation with a reduction in death of 21% through faster treatment under the protocols.
  • The passage of Rory’s Staunton’s Law, requiring all New York State school children to receive comprehensive K-12 sepsis education, developed by End Sepsis and all healthcare workers in the state, over 468,000 individuals to receive sepsis training;
  • Successfully advocating for the creation of a multiyear sepsis education campaign by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and increased funding for sepsis in the federal budget;
  • The creation of the National Family Council on Sepsis with members in every state;
  • The establishment of the annual National Forum on Sepsis, the most important event on the sepsis calendar in the United States, which brings together leaders in government, health care, academia, and patient advocacy;
  • The creation of the Maternal Sepsis Initiative, funded in part by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which aims to end the maternal sepsis crisis in New York State and beyond.

Rory’s Death

April 1, 2012
Rory’s Death

Rory Staunton dies of undiagnosed, untreated sepsis in New York City. His death receives widespread media attention.

The Rory Staunton Foundation is Established

January 1, 2013
The Rory Staunton Foundation is Established

Rory’s Regulations

January 29, 2013
Rory’s Regulations

New York becomes the first state in the nation to require every hospital to adopt evidence-based protocols for the rapid identification and treatment of sepsis.

Senate Hearings

September 23, 2013
Senate Hearings

Foundation Co-Founders, Orlaith and Ciaran Staunton, succeed in initiating the first ever U.S. Senate Hearings on Sepsis.

Sepsis and The CDC

May 29, 2014
Sepsis and The CDC

Upon the recommendation of the Rory Staunton Foundation, the CDC launches a sepsis section on its website to educate the public about sepsis.

The National Forum on Sepsis

September 14, 2014

The Rory Staunton Foundation hosts the National Forum on Sepsis in Washington D.C., which will be held annually and become the most important sepsis event of the year.

New York City Marathon

November 2, 2014
New York City Marathon

The first sepsis team runs the New York City Marathon with proceeds going to the Rory Staunton Foundation.

National Family Council on Sepsis

September 5, 2015
National Family Council on Sepsis

The Foundation announces the formation of the National Family Council on Sepsis, a coalition of families impacted by sepsis that will lead the fight for sepsis awareness and improved sepsis policies at the state level.

Sepsis Education Module

September 21, 2015
Sepsis Education Module

The Foundation launches its sepsis education module for middle and high school science students at Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in Queens, N.Y.

Illinois Signs On

August 8, 2016

Illinois becomes the second state to pass mandatory sepsis protocols, following New York’s model.

Loreal’s Woman of Worth

October 16, 2016
Loreal’s Woman of Worth

Orlaith Staunton is selected from 6,100 nominees as a L’Oreal Woman of Worth for 2017. Each year, L’Oreal honors ten women who have made an extraordinary impact on their communities, shining an international spotlight on their causes.

5,000 Lives Saved

March 16, 2017

The first report on the impact of Rory’s Regulations in New York State are released. They show that the mandatory protocols saved more than 5,000 lives in their first 26 months of adoption.

Landmark Resolution Passes

May 26, 2017

Ciaran Staunton attends the 70th World Health Assembly, speaking in support of a landmark resolution dedicating $4.6 million to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis worldwide. The resolution passes unanimously.

People Magazine Feature

September 19, 2017
People Magazine Feature

People magazine publishes a series of articles and a video on the work of the Staunton family, educating a readership of 42 million about the signs and dangers of sepsis.

Cuomo Signs “Rory Staunton’s Law”

October 24, 2017
Cuomo Signs “Rory Staunton’s Law”

Governor Andrew Cuomo signs “Rory Staunton’s Law”, providing comprehensive K-12 sepsis education for New York’s 3 million school children.The law also requires more than 450,000 healthcare professionals to complete mandatory sepsis training.

New Jersey Signs On

December 21, 2017

New Jersey becomes the third state to impose mandatory sepsis protocols for every hospital, following extended advocacy by the Rory Staunton Foundation and the National Family Council on Sepsis.

Journal of the American Medical Association

July 1, 2018
Journal of the American Medical Association

Rory’s Regulations have decreased pediatric sepsis death rates by 40%, according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

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Fly to Fight Sepsis

September 10, 2018
Fly to Fight Sepsis

The Rory Staunton Foundation and Roche Diagnostics launch Fly to Fight Sepsis, a viral sepsis awareness campaign that encourages participants to learn and share the signs of sepsis and take petition their elected representatives to take action on sepsis.

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JAMA study

July 1, 2019
JAMA study

A study published in the JAMA finds that the protocolized care introduced into hospitals by Rory’s Regulations resulted in a significantly greater decline in sepsis mortality compared with other states without regulations

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BARDA Drive

November 1, 2019
BARDA Drive

The Rory Staunton Foundation is awarded a major federal government contract under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s BARDA DRIVE division to develop a comprehensive program to reduce the instances of maternal sepsis in New York State.

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2020 Forum Held

October 8, 2020
2020 Forum Held

END SEPSIS holds its 6th National Forum on Sepsis: The Future of Sepsis in a COVID World. View on demand here.

SCCM Commentary Published

July 1, 2021
SCCM Commentary Published

“That proven solutions to this crisis exist and are not being implemented is unconscionable. We call on the medical and public health community to step up and meet this challenge.” END SEPSIS is invited to submit an editorial commentary to Critical Care Medicine. Read the full commentary here.

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Maternal Sepsis Campaign Launched

December 7, 2021
Maternal Sepsis Campaign Launched

END SEPSIS launches its maternal sepsis campaign for patients and providers with webinars, digital media assets and a public service announcement. View the materials here.

10 Years Without Rory

April 1, 2022
10 Years Without Rory

The Staunton Family and END SEPSIS mark 10 years since the tragic death of Rory Staunton. Read his story here.

16,000 Lives Saved in NY

April 28, 2022
16,000 Lives Saved in NY

Rory’s Regulations, named for Rory Staunton, saved over 16,000 lives in New York State between 2014 and 2019, according to new data. You can read more about it in this piece by HealthLeaders.

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Rory’s Story

Rory’s Story

“On April 01, 2012, our lives changed forever…” Read Rory’s Story.