Should surgical waitlists take ethnicity into account?

News that Auckland surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity when deciding who should get an operation first sparked sharp debate around the country. 
 
Politicians and medical professionals quickly weighed in, with some saying that Health New Zealand’s new Equity Adjuster Score was indefensible.

Supporters have, however, pointed out that ethnicity is just one of a number of factors being considered alongside clinical priority, time spent on the waitlist, geographic location and deprivation level.

So is this system defensible or even ethical? And is this even the best way to address poor health outcomes faced by Māori and Pasifika communities?

Joining Damien on The Front Page today to help answer those questions is Auckland University associate professor Monique Jonas, an expert in healthcare ethics and distributive justice in health.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Venuto
Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

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