Baby
Isaiah
Succumbs
I received word last night that Baby Isaiah, the subject of a bitter
futile care case in Canada, died in his parent’s arms after they
decided the time had come to stop treatment. They made that
decision–not the doctors and not the courts–based on the bad news they
received from medical consultants who had reviewed Isaiah’s case.
The media is reporting that happened. From the story:
The parents, who are both in their early 20s, thanked Taylor and the
staff for their help. They also paid tribute to thousands of people
worldwide who rallied behind them on social networking sites such as
Facebook. Some right-to-life and religious groups in Canada and the
U.S. also expressed their support. The parents said the outpouring gave
them strength in court and when they visited their son each day in
hospital. They were surrounded by aunts, uncles and grandparents as
Isaiah took his last breath.
Alberta Health Services initially tried to limit the time the Mays were
requesting to seek a second medical opinion on Isaiah but then worked
closely with the family to make it happen. The organization expressed
its condolences to the family. “Physicians and staff who have been
involved in caring for baby Isaiah were touched by the May family’s
strength. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family.”
No life is unworthy of living. Isaiah was deeply loved by his
parents and his circumstances challenged us about how to best care for
people with the most serious illnesses and disabilities. I
believe that the doctors who wanted to stop treatment, and those who
fought to maintain it, earnestly sought what they considered best for
the child.
But many futile care cases are not really over medicine, but rather,
conflicting values. When those are the stakes, the tremendous
benefit of the doubt should go to patients and families, not
bioethicists, physicians, or society. Otherwise, the “right to
die”–actually the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment–could
easily mutate into the duty to die, by having life-sustaining treatment
denied. Alas, that is precisely what some in bioethics desire.
Isaiah’s parents will at least know that the decision to stop treatment
was theirs, and not that of others. I hope it brings some
consolation as they enter a time of grief. Our most sincere
sympathies.
Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source:
Secondhand
Smoke
Publish
Date:
March 12, 2010
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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.
