INDEPENDENT NEWS

Turner: No public money for 'lifestyle' caesars

Published: Thu 17 Apr 2003 12:25 AM
Media Statement For immediate release Thursday, 17 April, 2003
Turner: No public money for 'lifestyle' caesars
New Zealand's stretched health dollar should not be spent on lifestyle caesarean births, United Future health spokeswoman Judy Turner said today.
"If it's a health issue, absolutely, the mother and child come first and everything necessary must be done for them.
"However, when it's a caesarean birth by choice, an option to avoid inconvenience of one form or another, then it's time to draw the line," Mrs Turner said.
"If couples insist on it, then let them pay for it. It certainly should not be funded by public money.
There are larger issues involved, and people needed to take a hard look at why they would bypass nature and choose something invasive and unnatural, she said.
"It's all part of an attempt to 'tidy up' parenting; scheduling junior to arrive at 9.15 on Tuesday to fit in with busy lives. When we start diarising births as a matter of course, we're starting to move away from something very human.
"People are editing their lives to leave out the bits they don't like, and we are losing something as a result," she said.
"And in the most basic health terms, we're not a rich enough country to pander to such wants when there are waiting lists for life-saving procedures such as cardiac and cancer treatment."
Ends.

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media