Here's our advice to Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews regarding the case of little Liam Reid, nearly three, who is going blind.

He's the son of Kristina and Dave Reid of Whitby and he's been denied world-leading treatment in Detroit that could save his sight, by OHIP.

This even though another Ontario child - the only other case in the province - is receiving these treatments in the U.S.

Minister, fix this.

Now.

We don't care what lip-service you have to pay to "going through the process" of reviewing the original decision to deny Liam treatment.

Do what you have to do - fast - and start paying for this child's care immediately, since experts at the Hospital for Sick Children have said they can do no more for Liam and his only hope lies with a world-leading doctor in Michigan.

Further, as Sun Queen's Park columnist Christina Blizzard noted, re-imburse Liam's parents for the $45,000 they have already spent on his treatment, after having to cancel their last visit to Beaumont Hospital in Detroit in April, because they could no longer afford the $5,000 per-visit cost.

This isn't going to open up a floodgate of similar cases or a bottomless financial pit.

Liam's condition - Norrie's disease - is extremely rare, as indicated by the fact only two children in Ontario are receiving treatment for it, one with OHIP support, one not.

This makes no sense.

As Tory MPP Christine Elliott, who has taken up Liam's cause, rightly noted: "I think it's only fair that Liam get the same opportunity for sight in Ontario as the other child who's receiving treatment from Dr. (Michael) Tracy" in Detroit.

Exactly. As it is, the situation is completely unjust and it's a denial of precisely what OHIP is for - to prevent people having to go into bankruptcy to obtain medically necessary surgery for a loved one.

Matthews has now met with the Reid family, including Liam, and asked her officials to look into the case. That's a start, but only a start.

In case Matthews hasn't notice, the credibility of her health ministry, after the eHealth and Ornge scandals, is pretty much shot.

Best not to add another scandal to the mix, minister.