Baby Joseph, who was the subject of a bitter futile care theory lawsuit that involved two elements: First, Canadian doctors and hospital administration wanting to end all life-sustaining treatment for the terminally ill boy so he would die. But they also refused a tracheotomy as medically unwarranted, even though it would permit Joseph’s parents to bring their son to die at home. Priests for Life paid for a transfer of the case, and the surgery was performed successfully. Now, Joseph has died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. From the Fox News Network story:
The baby who in March was hours from being pulled off life support at a Canadian hospital but was rescued by a pro-life group that brought the boy to the U.S. for treatment, died Tuesday night in the comfort of his own home in Windsor, Ontario. “Baby Joseph” died with his mother Sana Nader, father Moe Maraachli at the home, CBC News reported. “It seemed like a relaxing breath, like he was OK. It didn’t seem like he struggled,” Nader said, according to the report. “It was God’s way of telling us his last breath was OK.”
Joseph’s parents were proved correct medically about the boy’s benefiting from a tracheotomy. They said it would allow them to bring their boy home to die–and that they would be able to manage his care outside a hospital setting–and that is precisely what happened. The doctors wrongly said it would be a horror, but in reality, they weren’t making a medical judgment. Rather, they sought to impose their values on the family regarding the value of Joseph’s life.
That surgery gave Joseph an extra seven months, during which he was surrounded by the love of his family and received proper care. The Canadian doctors and all the noted bioethicists (like Peter Singer) who wanted to end all treatment except comfort care, and who complained angrily about the transfer, were saying that time wasn’t worth the effort and money. In effect, they contended they have the right to declare when extending life–when that is wanted–is not a “benefit,” which turns the very purpose of medicine on its head. Think about how dangerous it would be if doctors or bioethicists get to decide whose life is and is not worth living.
Joseph’s parents thought those final months were a treasure. Doctors and bioethicists wanted him buried seven months ago. That, in a nutshell, is to what the Futile Care Theory controversy boils down.
If we accept the futile care premise, it won’t stop there. Indeed, as I have repeatedly shown, the idea of unilaterally refusing wanted efficacious treatment based on quality of life judgmentalism is already extending beyond the ICU. That’s why this entire bioethical agenda must be cut off at the root.
September 28th, 2011 | 2:28 pm
Thank God this case ended the way it did. God bless Priests for Life for intervening in this case. I am proud of them for showing so much mercy and compassion when this family was in its hour of need. I wonder how long it will take Peter Singer to write an IMPORTANT (sarc) New York Times article arguing that Jospeh’s death proves his care was a waste.
September 28th, 2011 | 2:40 pm
Very grateful for the people who fought so hard, in public and in private, so that Joseph could be surrounded by the love he deserved, in this manner.
September 28th, 2011 | 5:40 pm
I am so happy this family fought so hard and had the support to enable them to have those extra 7 months. Those few months may not mean anything to the doctors but they mean so very much to the family.How many of us if we were told we were going to die and we were given the option of now in a cold hospital setting gasping for air or 7 months from now at home surrounded by family in a peaceful manner would say now?Life is precious. In honour of baby Joseph spend some time with your kids today and give them a hug.
September 29th, 2011 | 9:08 am
[...] denied the family the simple operation that would allow the family to bring Joseph home. Via Wesley Smith: “Baby Joseph” died with his mother Sana Nader, father Moe Maraachli at the home, CBC News [...]
September 29th, 2011 | 3:32 pm
As sad as death is, this story really warms my heart. The family’s struggle was not in vain-their son was able to die peacefully at home in his own time. Thank goodness they and their supporters held on and fought for what they believed was right.
October 4th, 2011 | 12:27 pm
God bless the people and organizations that brought this peacefully to an end the family wanted. The horror of letting govt. or a panel of doctors decide when you live and die is already known. They did it via Aktion T4 to eliminate “useless eaters.” Look it up on Wikipedia if you are not familiar: “Action T4″ or the German “Aktion T4.” All nicely done with all papers properly filled out, stamped, reviewed and “legal.” But it was then and is now, murder, nonetheless. We are ALL vulnerable.
October 19th, 2011 | 11:51 am
[...] I discuss the Baby Joseph case, which we have dealt with often here at SHS, and then note that medical futility principles have leaped past the doors of the ICU into clinical practice–such as refusing to cover life-extending chemotherapy for patients dying of cancer, both proposed and actually imposed. I also illustrate how the predictable nexus between assisted suicide and cost cutting has been explicitly made in Oregon with the Barbara Wagner case, and has been promoted in Vermont to help pay for a single payer health care plan. [...]
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