Several months ago, I wrote about the tragic death of Rory Staunton, a 12 year-old boy who died after doctors at a local hospital failed to recognize the early signs of sepsis, where the body has a severe response to a bacterial infection. Now, word comes from The New York Times that New York may become the first state to require hospitals to aggressively look for signs of sepsis in patients, so that treatment can be started as soon as possible. There is little doubt that for patients such as young Rory Staunton, early antibiotic therapy is often the difference between life and death. The proposed regulations would also make hospitals accountable by requiring them to publicly announce the results of their efforts. For the full story, read the article in the New York Times.
Should this proposal become law, it will be a good example of how the tragic loss of one child’s life may result in saving the lives of many others.