Posted on 03/21/2011 11:00:26 AM PDT by wagglebee
To join a Facebook page in support of the parents of Joseph Maraachli, click here.
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, March 21, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Joseph Maraachli, who had been set to have his ventilator removed against his parents’ wishes at an Ontario hospital last month, received a tracheotomy Monday morning and is doing well, says his family.
His parents, Moe Maraachli and Sana Nader, took Joseph to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri last Sunday after trying unsuccessfully to get him the simple procedure at his Ontario hospital, London Health Sciences Centre.
The surgery involves a slit in the throat to allow a breathing tube to be inserted into the airway. The tube allows for suction of fluid out of the lungs, creates a safe and stable way to use a mechanical ventilator, and is more comfortable for the child.
The parents have been asking for this procedure in hopes that they could take Joseph home. The Maraachli’s daughter Zina died from a similar neurological disorder eight years ago, and in that case the family took her home after doctors performed the simple procedure. They now want the same for Joseph.
In a statement today, Cardinal Glennon hospital said that Joseph is currently in the pediatric intensive care unit, where tracheotomy patients routinely spend 7 to 10 days following the procedure.
“After he is discharged from SSM Cardinal Glennon, Joseph will travel to Ranken Jordan - A pediatric specialty hospital in St. Louis before being transported to his family home in Windsor,” said the hospital. “It is our hope that this procedure will allow Joseph and his family the gift of a few more months together and that Joseph may be more comfortable with a permanent tracheotomy.
The statement concluded: “As with any of the children we help, our primary focus must remain on the patient and what is best in his or her individual circumstances. We ask that you keep Baby Joseph and his family in your prayers.”
Joseph was airlifted to the hospital Sunday night with the help of the U.S.-based Priests for Life, who are also covering Joseph’s U.S. medical expenses and his family’s accommodations.
Dr. Paul Byrne, a fifty-year veteran in the field of neonatology based in Ohio, told LSN last month that in his opinion Joseph should have had a tracheostomy “a long time ago.” He also insisted that he has never seen a need to remove a child’s ventilator. “If a baby has a disease process that’s so bad that they’re going to die, then they die on the ventilator anyway,” he explained.
The London hospital’s decision to remove Joseph’s ventilator against his parents’ wishes was backed up in January by the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board, and again on February 17th by the Ontario Superior Court.
Superior Court Justice Helen Rady’s decision was based on doctors’ testimony that he is in a permanent vegetative state with no brain stem reflex. But the family has contested that claim, pointing to footage showing him flailing and reacting to tickling.
After the Superior Court ruling, the hospital had appeared set to remove Joseph’s ventilator on February 21st. The move was delayed, however, when the family hired an expert lawyer with the financial backing of Canada’s Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Handelman was later replaced by Claudio Martini.
Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, has warned that Ontario is creating a system where doctors are authorized to force life and death decisions on patients.
In a blog post last week, he said the case emphasizes the need to reform a legal system in the province that favors hospitals over families in cases of disagreement over care. “The law has a natural inequality that has resulted in a plethora of precedent setting cases that support the role of the doctor/hospital to make medical decisions against the wishes of the family. This needs to change,” he wrote.
To join a Facebook page in support of the parents of Joseph Maraachli, click here.
These are the exact same death panels that Zero wants in every American hospital.
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Look at the numbers. Death panels are the only way to save Social Security! Kill the old, so you can continue to pay them!
Funny how it is usually leftists that up using accounting to justify getting involved in pro-actively ending the lives of others.
Leftist policies lead to unnecessary, premature death whenever they are tried.
I’m very glad and relieved to hear this.
Zero will give waivers to those who support him so everyone else can just die. That said, I am very happy for the baby and his parents! What will people do when they can’t come to the USA anymore for their life saving operations?
Thank You God!
Poor little guy.
Whenever I start to think that my life is BS or my blood is boiling about something....stories like this remind me of how much I have to be thankful to God for.
Thank God that the murder of this baby has been foiled. God bless this pro-life family.
Yes, and it won’t stop at the old. Anyone who does not seem to be a taxpayer will be at risk.
Our Heavenly Father will make the decisions as to when Baby Joseph will become His newest little Angel.
Finally, we see a doctor with compassion for his patients.......unlike in Canada. Beware, we can lose this if we are not vigilant. Canada has.
Except for serial killers. But since serial killers are pro-actively ending the lives of others, they are kindred spirits.
Baby Joseph Maraachli and Parents
FR Keyword: josephmaraachli
Frank Pavone: Who is Baby Joseph Maraachli and Why Should I Care?
Short *MUST READ* Article - Doctors said "Futile" & Kicked Kimberly Off Life Support! But by God's Grace Kim is Alive!
*** FR - Wesley J. Smith:Futile Care: Teenager Forced Off Life Support Survives to Tell the Tale - New Zealand
House GOP Probes HHS’ Sebelius On ‘End-Of-Life’ Rule
Baby Joseph Maraachli and Parents
FR Keyword: josephmaraachli
Frank Pavone: Who is Baby Joseph Maraachli and Why Should I Care?
Short *MUST READ* Article - Doctors said "Futile" & Kicked Kimberly Off Life Support! But by God's Grace Kim is Alive!
*** FR - Wesley J. Smith:Futile Care: Teenager Forced Off Life Support Survives to Tell the Tale - New Zealand
House GOP Probes HHS’ Sebelius On ‘End-Of-Life’ Rule
Arrrghh - #16 double post bump! I think it’s going away.
Latest from Brother O’Donnell: Joseph’s doing fine.
“and it won’t stop at the old. “
As we see with Baby Joseph.
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