Baby Joseph & Death Panels

Joseph Maraachi, aka Baby Joseph, is fascinating because it could be foreshadowing what America will be like if Obamacare is allowed to stand. The Democrats can deny it all they want, but the fact is there will be death panels. They will spin it and use nicer words to describe it, but in the end it is a DEATH PANEL. A group of doctors will convene and decide which patients are worthy to keep receiving treatment and which ones will stop. Translation: who will live and who will die. The Democrats should explain how that is NOT a death panel.

Baby Joseph has Leigh Syndrome, also known as Subacute Necrotizing Encephalomyelopathy.  According to WebMD it is an extremely rare neurometabolic disorder that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, optic nerves). It is treated with thiamin (vitamin B1), but it is almost always fatal.

Moe Maraachi knows his son does not have long to live, but like any parent, wants to exercise every single option to help his son live a day or two longer. In the end he wants his son to die in peace and comfort. Unfortunately the death panel in Canada decided that Joseph's life was not worthy of continuing treatment or even to receive a tracheotomy, which would allow him to breathe better on his own and he could live out the rest of his days at home.

Dr. Manny Alvarez from FOX News explains how the tracheotomy does not prolong Joseph's suffering, but provides comfort.  "A tracheotomy, meanwhile, inserts a tube directly into the throat through an incision in the neck. This eliminates some of the pain and discomfort associated with intubation."

He also mentions how this falls in line with palliative care for children with terminal diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for palliative care is to respect the wishes of the family and to do whatever they can to improve the child's quality of life. Dr. Manny says that is exactly what the doctors did at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center for the Maraachi family.

Baby Joseph's parents weren't asking for more treatment or for the doctors to keep working on a cure. Basically Joseph's care would end with the tracheotomy and the government wouldn't have to spend any more money on Joseph's care yet the death panel decided that he wasn't worth the effort to do a tracheotomy. It's scary to think who else they are deeming unworthy of simple treatments. It's even scarier to KNOW this is the health care system the Democrats want in America.