A family has secured a High Court settlement against Children's Health Ireland (CHI) following the death of 15-year-old Killian Burnett from an asthma attack. The family had been attempting to get specialized care for Killian for four years prior to his death in March 2022. An inquest concluded that Killian died due to medical misadventure and missed opportunities in his care.
The settlement includes six nervous-shock actions and a formal apology from CHI. Jordan Burnett, Killian's older brother and a qualified personal trainer, described the protracted struggle to obtain adequate medical attention for his sibling. "I've been going to a psychiatrist, I'm going to counselling, I've been told that I'll probably be affected by what happened to Killian for the rest of my life," Jordan Burnett stated.
Jordan Burnett recounted instances where he performed CPR on his younger brother during severe asthma attacks while waiting for ambulances. He described Killian's condition deteriorating over four years, impacting his ability to participate in sports or attend school. "He was deteriorating before our eyes," he said. "He couldn’t play sports. He couldn’t go to school. He stopped going out and for Killian, this was so strange."
Killian had a history of asthma, with early childhood attendances at Temple Street Children's Hospital beginning in 2013. Despite being referred to a respiratory consultant in December 2017, four cancellations meant he never received the necessary specialist assessment. The family reported Killian experiencing around two asthma attacks per night and described him as becoming increasingly frail. "It was like the life had started going out of his body," Jordan Burnett recalled.
The Asthma Society of Ireland has highlighted a significant issue with wait times for severe asthma diagnosis, reporting an average wait of six years. Cancellations for Killian's appointments were attributed to staff shortages, specialists' holidays, and the impact of COVID-19. "He needed to see a specialist and be under specialist care. He was getting worse, not better. They just kept adding to his medication. He was on too much stuff," Jordan Burnett stated.
In the early hours of March 22, 2022, Killian suffered a fatal asthma attack. While his family administered aid, they reported the ambulance appeared to be taking a long time. Killian was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful. Tragically, Killian was scheduled to see a specialist three days after his death.
A serious incident review conducted by Temple Street Hospital identified missed opportunities in managing Killian's care and providing access to specialist reviews. The Burnett family has actively campaigned to raise awareness of the care disparities in asthma waiting lists to prevent other families from enduring similar tragedies. Jordan Burnett noted that his own daughter also has asthma and is currently on a waiting list to see a specialist.
Children's Health Ireland's chief executive, Lucy Nugent, acknowledged the shortcomings in Killian's care and stated that CHI is committed to optimizing patient care and ensuring best practice. The Asthma Society of Ireland emphasized the critical need for timely access to specialist care for severe asthma patients and advocated for the role of advanced nurse practitioners in strengthening these services.
Killian Burnett would have turned 20 years old next month. His family remembers him as a vibrant and well-loved individual. "We were all able to stick together as a family and show strength, and we kept fighting since the day he died," Jordan Burnett said. "I'm glad that we won a fight and that we get to put it behind us and Killian gets to rest in peace now. But it can’t happen to another child."