A Preventable Tragedy: Ryan Gibbons’ Death Sparks Life-Saving Law
Twelve-year-old Ryan Gibbons lost his life to an asthma attack at his Ontario school—all because his inhaler was locked away in the principal’s office, inaccessible during his moment of need. School policy forbade him from carrying it, even after his mother, Sandra Gibbons, pleaded for change and provided a doctor’s note. Previous spare inhalers she sent were confiscated.
Ryan’s death, a heartbreaking and avoidable tragedy, ignited public outrage and pushed Sandra into action. Refusing to let her son’s story be forgotten, she launched a tireless campaign to ensure no other family would endure the same loss. Her advocacy led to the passage of Ryan’s Law—a landmark policy in Ontario that guarantees students the right to carry their asthma inhalers with a doctor’s authorization.
While Canada now protects this basic medical right, inconsistencies remain in other parts of the world. In the United States, federal laws generally allow students to carry inhalers, but outdated anti-drug policies in some schools still create dangerous barriers. This is despite the fact that asthma claims more than ten lives each day.
Ryan’s story is a sobering reminder: policies meant to protect can sometimes do the opposite—and it often takes a tragedy to inspire change.
Ryan’s legacy continues to save lives by ensuring kids with asthma can access their medication when they need it most.
