Auckland surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity alongside other factors when deciding who should get an operation first. Of course, several surgeons say they are upset by the policy, which was introduced in Auckland in February and gave priority to Māori and Pacific Island patients - on the grounds that they have historically had unequal access to healthcare.
Health officials stress that ethnicity is just one of five factors considered in deciding when a person gets surgery, and that it is an important step in addressing poor health outcomes within Māori and Pacific populations. Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand has introduced an Equity Adjustor Score, which aims to reduce inequity in the system by using an algorithm to prioritize patients according to clinical priority, time spent on the waitlist, geographic location (isolated areas), ethnicity, and deprivation level.
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Surgeons should not prioritize medical care based on ethnicity. The principle of medical ethics, including in the field of surgery, emphasizes the importance of providing equal and unbiased treatment to all patients. The concept of prioritizing care based on ethnicity would be a clear violation of this principle. Healthcare professionals are expected to deliver care based on medical need, urgency, and the best interests of the patient, irrespective of their ethnicity or any other personal characteristics. Equality, fairness, and respect for human dignity are fundamental principles that guide medical practice and decision-making.
