Why we have the medicals

[MotherBear]

Presumably this is the reason why we have to have such strict medicals. Seems it didn?t work in this case. Poor lad, but poor taxpayers as well.

Taxpayers could face $5m bill for sick migrant boy
9:55AM Tuesday February 06, 2007



Taxpayers could foot a $5 million bill to support a sick Romanian boy whose family lied so they could stay in New Zealand.

The child's parents kept his life-threatening blood disorder secret from immigration authorities amid fears he could die if sent home, the Dominion Post reported today.

Auckland District Health Board staff told the Deportation Review Tribunal the cost of providing continuing treatment for Adrian Vilceanu, 11, boy could climb to $5 million if he lived until the age of 50.

The tribunal found his parents, Romanian citizens Cezar and Constanta Camelia Vilceanu, had deliberately withheld information because they wanted better treatment for Adrian than he was receiving in Romania.

More here .

[selchie]

I do understand that loving parents might do anything they can to help their child, and I hope he can continue to recieve adequate care. However, what the parents did is fraudulent, and they should expect to face some sort of disciplinary action. I hope the parents are blood donors, so they can help alleviate the burden on an often short blood supply.

[MotherBear]

However, what the parents did is fraudulent, and they should expect to face some sort of disciplinary action. .

It did cross my mind when I was posting that, that it has the potential of opening up the floodgates to others in a similar position. As it is, NZ has given the go-ahead by appearing to condone the parents' action. The rules are quite strict and clear - you won't be allowed in if you're likely to be a burden on the health system. If they can make allowances for one, they must do it for everyone, otherwise they leave themselves wide open to criticism.

Can you imagine what would have happened to one of us if we'd got found out lying during a medical? That would be the end of NZ for us. The Romanians should have gone to the UK - they let anyone in there and give them the best of whatever's on offer ::).

[Glenda]

The Romanians should have gone to the UK - they let anyone in there and give them the best of whatever's on offer ?::). ?

;D

The article goes on to say:-

It also noted changes to blood-testing requirements meant it was no longer possible for potential immigrants to arrive in New Zealand without authorities being aware of such a disorder.

The tribunal found Adrian's highly educated parents had brought valuable skills to New Zealand.

Still, I would have thought the parents (even if they are highly educated) should have been fined or put under a probation. ?Perhaps they were but it was not reported. ?

:-/