Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has issued a public apology following the inquest into the death of 15-year-old Dublin teenager, Killian Burnett, after a severe asthma attack in March 2022. The case has brought renewed attention to the risks associated with asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland, delays in accessing specialist respiratory services, and the importance of appropriate escalation of care for children with unstable symptoms.

Background to the case

Killian Burnett, from Finglas, died at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, on 22 March 2022. Evidence presented at Dublin District Coroner’s Court confirmed that he had been waiting over four years to see a respiratory consultant. During that period, four scheduled specialist appointments were cancelled. These delays were cited as part of broader systemic issues linked to asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland, particularly where complex symptoms remain unreviewed for extended periods.

Members of the teenager’s extended family became visibly distressed as Coroner Clare Keane delivered a verdict of death due to medical misadventure. The coroner noted several “missed opportunities” to treat the teenager’s underlying condition and highlighted issues in communication, referral pathways, and clinical prioritisation.

Missed appointments and gaps in specialist availability

The inquest heard that Killian and his parents attended Temple Street hospital one month before his death, unaware that the appointment had been cancelled due to an internal communication issue. CHI confirmed that this was one of only seven days since 2018 when no respiratory consultant was available during daytime hours.

Killian had also attended Temple Street multiple times in the two months leading up to his death. Despite episodes of collapse and significant breathing difficulty, he was discharged home on each visit after a period of observation. These patterns raised concerns about whether clinical assessments fully accounted for his unstable symptoms, a recurring theme in discussions about asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland.

Concerns raised by the family

Killian’s father, David Burnett, described a long history of respiratory difficulties. His son experienced frequent attacks from a young age and had been increasingly unwell over the years. He recounted that Killian was suffering from two asthma attacks each night, which caused severe sleep disruption and required constant monitoring.

The teenager had gradually withdrawn from sports and was often collected early from school due to chest discomfort or breathing problems. Mr Burnett described the events of the night Killian died, recalling that he was alerted at around 4 am when his son struggled to breathe. The teenager had become pale, with purple lips, before collapsing.

Clinical evidence presented at the hearing

Dr Martin Murphy, who reviewed Killian’s condition at CHI Crumlin, stated that he believed the teenager did not show signs of acute asthma during his assessment and had been reassured by the fact that a specialist appointment was scheduled for two weeks later. Under cross-examination, he expressed regret regarding the decision-making at the time.

Emergency medicine consultant Michael Barrett also expressed distress at the outcome. He acknowledged that the four-year wait for a specialist review was significant, although the precise impact on Killian’s final presentation could not be determined.

Dr Michael Riordan, clinical director for medical specialities at CHI, provided an unconditional apology to the family. He confirmed that waiting lists for paediatric respiratory services had since been merged across CHI sites to improve prioritisation and reduce the risk of delays, which contribute to cases of asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland.

Recommendations issued by the coroner

Coroner Clare Keane recommended that a senior clinician should constantly review children with a history of respiratory arrest linked to asthma during each presentation. She further suggested that referrals be escalated without delay if symptoms deteriorate.

These recommendations were framed within the broader national conversation about asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland, highlighting the need for clearer pathways for children with chronic or unstable conditions. A post-mortem examination confirmed that Killian died from respiratory failure due to a severe exacerbation of chronic asthma.

Family response following the inquest

Killian’s older brother Jordan said the family hoped the inquest findings would support improvements in respiratory care for other children. He described his brother as a kind and well-liked teenager whose life had been tragically shortened.

The family expressed hope that the actions taken by CHI, including improved referral pathways and centralised waiting list management, will help prevent future incidents linked to asthma misdiagnosis in Ireland and delays in specialist access.