Blanket Race Based Health Prioritization vs Genetic Risk Factor
Micky Turner made this Official Information request to Andrew Little
This request has been withdrawn by the person who made it. There may be an explanation in the correspondence below.
From: Micky Turner
Dear Andrew Little,
Can you please forward all evidence held by the Government - which supports the implementation of blanket race based health prioritization vs case by case prioritization based on actual genetic risk?
While it is true that 'some' health issues are hereditary and gender &/or genes play a role in increased risk - surely not 'all' health issues can be attributed to race or gender. In many instances (if not most) it is unethical to bump a person up a priority queue simply because they are 'insert race &/or gender here'.
Wikipedia states:
'Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the international crime of apartheid and a crime against humanity under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. Segregation can involve the spatial separation of the races, and mandatory use of different institutions, such as schools and hospitals by people of different races.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_seg...
Please forward all emails & discussions on record, as well as all research carried out by your Government and the Ministry of Health - including how a blanket race based prioritization system complies with New Zealand's obligations under local & international law.
Yours faithfully,
Micky Turner
From: A Little Office (MIN)
Andrew Little
Tçnâ koe
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of
Health, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister Responsible
for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister Responsible
for Pike River Re-entry.
Minister Little receives a significant volume of correspondence:
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Information Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant
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be managed in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1993,
which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency,
· If you are a journalist then your request will be triaged by a
press secretary,
· To find out more about Minister Little read his [1]biography or
recent [2]statements.
Ngâ mihi
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email [Andrew Little request email] |
Web [3]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041,
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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From: Georgia Roden
Kia ora
On behalf of Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health, thank you for your Official Information request of 21 April 2021:
"Can you please forward all evidence held by the Government - which supports the implementation of blanket race based health prioritization vs case by case prioritization based on actual genetic risk?
Please forward all emails & discussions on record, as well as all research carried out by your Government and the Ministry of Health - including how a blanket race based prioritization system complies with New Zealand's obligations under local & international law."
The information requested appears to be more closely associated with the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly I am transferring your request to the Ministry of Health under section 14(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review this decision to transfer your request for information.
Ngâ mihi nui
Georgia Roden
Private Secretary, Health
Email [email address]
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Health, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email [Andrew Little request email] | Web beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
From: Micky Turner [mailto:[FOI #15232 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 21 April 2021 11:45 AM
To: A Little Office (MIN) <[Andrew Little request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Blanket Race Based Health Prioritization vs Genetic Risk Factor
Dear Andrew Little,
Can you please forward all evidence held by the Government - which supports the implementation of blanket race based health prioritization vs case by case prioritization based on actual genetic risk?
While it is true that 'some' health issues are hereditary and gender &/or genes play a role in increased risk - surely not 'all' health issues can be attributed to race or gender. In many instances (if not most) it is unethical to bump a person up a priority queue simply because they are 'insert race &/or gender here'.
Wikipedia states:
'Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the international crime of apartheid and a crime against humanity under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. Segregation can involve the spatial separation of the races, and mandatory use of different institutions, such as schools and hospitals by people of different races.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_seg...
Please forward all emails & discussions on record, as well as all research carried out by your Government and the Ministry of Health - including how a blanket race based prioritization system complies with New Zealand's obligations under local & international law.
Yours faithfully,
Micky Turner
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora
Thank you for your request for official information which was transferred
from Hon Andrew Little and received on 21 April 2021 for:
“Can you please forward all evidence held by the Government - which
supports the implementation of blanket race based health prioritization vs
case by case prioritization based on actual genetic risk?
While it is true that 'some' health issues are hereditary and gender &/or
genes play a role in increased risk - surely not 'all' health issues can
be attributed to race or gender. In many instances (if not most) it is
unethical to bump a person up a priority queue simply because they are
'insert race &/or gender here'.
Wikipedia states:
'Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or
other ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the
international crime of apartheid and a crime against humanity under the
Statute of the International Criminal Court. Segregation can involve the
spatial separation of the races, and mandatory use of different
institutions, such as schools and hospitals by people of different races.
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
Please forward all emails & discussions on record, as well as all research
carried out by your Government and the Ministry of Health - including how
a blanket race based prioritization system complies with New Zealand's
obligations under local & international law.”
The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202104789.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 May 2021, being 20
working days after the day your request was received.
If we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we
will notify you of an extension of that time frame.
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
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From: Micky Turner
Thanks Nick,
Any context I have given is only to give an 'indication' of the type of information I am requesting.
I have at no point asked for comment or for the Ministry of Health to create new information. Nor have I asked you to engage in a debate - which seems to be your objective. As far as I'm aware this is not a debating forum.
I am simply requesting 'existing' information that you have on record.
This article indicates that contrary to your claims - you likely do have the requested information on record:
"Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs are prioritizing Māori and Pasifika in our surgical scheduling processes."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/...
I would appreciate it if you would please meet your obligations under the Act and provide the information. Happy to forward the matter onto the Ombudsman for clarification if you are unwilling to be honest & transparent.
Kindest regards -
Micky Turner
From: Micky Turner
Nick,
Please also note the following:
Official Information Act 1982
18B Duty to consider consulting person if request likely to be refused under section 18(e) or (f)
If a request is likely to be refused under section 18(e) or (f), the department or interdepartmental venture, Minister of the Crown, or organisation must, before that request is refused, consider whether consulting with the person who made the request would assist that person to make the request in a form that would remove the reason for the refusal.
I'm not seeing any attempt by you to be helpful - in fact it seems you are making every effort to be unhelpful and stonewall my request.
Kindest regards -
Micky Turner
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Micky Turner
The Ministry of Health does not hold any information pertaining to your
request and stands by the decision to refuse your request under section
18(g)(i) of the Act.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under your request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Micky Turner <[FOI #15232 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 May 2021 12:33
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for official information
(H202104789)
Thanks Nick,
Any context I have given is only to give an 'indication' of the type of
information I am requesting.
I have at no point asked for comment or for the Ministry of Health to
create new information. Nor have I asked you to engage in a debate - which
seems to be your objective. As far as I'm aware this is not a debating
forum.
I am simply requesting 'existing' information that you have on record.
This article indicates that contrary to your claims - you likely do have
the requested information on record:
"Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs are prioritizing Māori and Pasifika
in our surgical scheduling processes."
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
I would appreciate it if you would please meet your obligations under the
Act and provide the information. Happy to forward the matter onto the
Ombudsman for clarification if you are unwilling to be honest &
transparent.
Kindest regards -
Micky Turner
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15232 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
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From: Micky Turner
Dear OIA Requests,
To clarify -
You are saying that the Ministry of Health holds 'no' information at all - including email discussions, notes from board meetings and reports - regarding Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs prioritizing Māori and Pasifika in surgical scheduling processes? Or similar information from any other DHB's assessing this practice?
So effectively all work & discussions done on this subject were never recorded? There are no hard copies of statistical research and analysis on which these decisions were made? And there was never any work undertaken to ensure all aspects of racial prioritization comply with local and international law?
Please confirm.
- Micky Turner
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Micky Turner
This information is not held by the Ministry of Health, it is held by the
DHBs, in this case Capital & Coast and Hut Valley DHBs.
Please advise if you would like us to transfer your request to these DHBs.
Alternatively, you can request this information directly from them
at: [email address] and [email address].
Please note your original request was for:
"Can you please forward all evidence held by the Government - which
supports the implementation of blanket race based health prioritization vs
case by case prioritization based on actual genetic risk?
While it is true that 'some' health issues are hereditary and gender &/or
genes play a role in increased risk - surely not 'all' health issues can
be attributed to race or gender. In many instances (if not most) it is
unethical to bump a person up a priority queue simply because they are
'insert race &/or gender here'.
Wikipedia states:
'Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or
other ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the
international crime of apartheid and a crime against humanity under the
Statute of the International Criminal Court. Segregation can involve the
spatial separation of the races, and mandatory use of different
institutions, such as schools and hospitals by people of different races.
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
Please forward all emails & discussions on record, as well as all research
carried out by your Government and the Ministry of Health - including how
a blanket race based prioritization system complies with New Zealand's
obligations under local & international law."
Which differs to your most recent request for:
"...information... - including email discussions, notes from board
meetings and reports - regarding Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs
prioritizing Māori and Pasifika in surgical scheduling processes? Or
similar information from any other DHB's assessing this practice?"
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Micky Turner <[FOI #15232 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 May 2021 13:38
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for official information
(H202104789)
Dear OIA Requests,
To clarify -
You are saying that the Ministry of Health holds 'no' information at all -
including email discussions, notes from board meetings and reports -
regarding Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs prioritizing Māori and
Pasifika in surgical scheduling processes? Or similar information from any
other DHB's assessing this practice?
So effectively all work & discussions done on this subject were never
recorded? There are no hard copies of statistical research and analysis
on which these decisions were made? And there was never any work
undertaken to ensure all aspects of racial prioritization comply with
local and international law?
Please confirm.
- Micky Turner
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora Micky Turner
The Ministry of Health does not hold any information pertaining to your
request and stands by the decision to refuse your request under section
18(g)(i) of the Act.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman
to
review any decisions made under your request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Micky Turner <[FOI #15232 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 May 2021 12:33
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for official information
(H202104789)
Thanks Nick,
Any context I have given is only to give an 'indication' of the type of
information I am requesting.
I have at no point asked for comment or for the Ministry of Health to
create new information. Nor have I asked you to engage in a debate -
which
seems to be your objective. As far as I'm aware this is not a debating
forum.
I am simply requesting 'existing' information that you have on record.
This article indicates that contrary to your claims - you likely do have
the requested information on record:
"Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs are prioritizing Māori and Pasifika
in our surgical scheduling processes."
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
I would appreciate it if you would please meet your obligations under the
Act and provide the information. Happy to forward the matter onto the
Ombudsman for clarification if you are unwilling to be honest &
transparent.
Kindest regards -
Micky Turner
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15232 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
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Visible links
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From: Micky Turner
Dear OIA Requests,
Thank you - yes please redirect and address my requests to the DHB's.
Kindest regards -
Micky Turner
From: Micky Turner
Because the DHB's are merging & will have new operating rules - I will withdraw this request.
Thanks for your time.
Cheers - Micky
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