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A Maori GP says King Tuheitia’s operation to receive a kidney from his youngest son is an opportunity for Maori to discuss organ donation.
The king and Korotangi Paki have been discharged from hospital and are now recovering at home.
Lance O’Sullivan says while cultural factors have been cited as a reason for the low number of Maori agreeing to become organ donors, there could also be cultural arguments why it’s a good thing to do.
He says it’s the ultimate koha.
"We are gifting life in many cases. A patient of mine whose wife had a pancreas transplant and was a Type 1 diabetic and now she no longer is. It's a massive imporvement for the quality of life. So we know that it doesn't just save lives it means that people who are having significant health burdens can sometimes have those cured," he says.
Dr O’Sullivan says about 10 percent of organ donors in the past year were Maori, but given the high Maori need that figure should have been 20 to 30 percent.
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