Jahi McMath’s bright future has gone dark after a routine surgery turned tragic, leaving her brain dead and without any chance of
recovery. What happened has sparked debates among people on whether or not her weight has contributed to complications, unexpectedly cutting her life short. McMath’s case has once again raised issues on child obesity and if parents should be blamed on their children’s weight and choice of lifestyle.
McMath’s family recently released a statement to defend themselves, against criticisms and on speculations that her weight has played a role in her pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to the cardiac arrest after her surgery. Although it is true that obesity can contribute to sleep apnea, OSA in children however, can stem down from different factors such as Down’s syndrome, race, hypothyroidism, and sometimes on infected and inflamed tonsils as well. Although there may be different reasons for McMath’s OSA, this doesn’t mean that her weight wasn’t a reason for her condition. In fact, as young as she was, she may have been a victim of the continuous battles between her infected tonsils, hence the need for the surgery, and her weight problems.
Whatever caused the untimely death of Jahi McMath, speculations on her obesity playing a major role in her cardiac arrest won’t do the grieving family any good, especially since the blame is pointed towards them. It is true that obesity is an irresolvable issue in the United States, but attributing and assuming that it is the sole reason why Jahi McMath is no longer with her family won’t bring her back. Perhaps the surgeons who treat patients with obesity should asses a sleep test first and advise the parents of all the risks associated with sleep apnea if present.
Dar Radfar DDS practices in Thousand Oaks California. Dr. Radfar is accredited by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Since 2007, he has been treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring patients. He provides professional lectures on the practice of Obstructive Sleep Apnea dentistry, how to screen for the condition, types of appliances to use, and how to get reimbursed for the services provided through medical insurances. For information on these lectures http://bit.ly/1i1RXLm