Turner Judy: Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Turner Judy: Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of United Future to say that we will gladly support the first reading of this bill. I congratulate the sponsor Jackie Blue and of course I congratulate Andy Tookey on the commitment he has shown to this cause. 
I have to say that I am a little bit disappointed that the Maori Party has chosen at this stage not to offer support. I think that supporting a first reading gives a great opportunity for ongoing dialogue not just within this House but outside. I understand the cultural sensitivities around this matter but I also understand that all cultures are dynamic and responsive to phenomena and often adjust over time. I believe that this discussion is an important one because of the fact that Maori are so overrepresented in the group that will often need organ donations. 
This issue is not unfamiliar to me. I personally have had some ethical dilemmas in my own life regarding certain medical procedures of in vitro fertilisation. I know that the technology has moved on a lot but years ago prior to when I was considering having children I looked very seriously at this issue and wondered what would happen if I discovered I had a fertility problem because I had some ethical dilemmas around the processes that were available at that time. I decided for myself that if I discovered I was going to have difficulties I would have to live with those because I could not ethically condone the practices of in vitro fertilisation of that time. 
I mention that because on this matter all members need to ask themselves with real honesty and regardless of their concerns what their opinions would be if they or one of their close family members were put in a situation where an organ donation would save a life. All of us need to think that through very carefully. I realise that it is not just the Maori community that has some concerns around this. Other communities in New Zealand share some reservations about what we do with body parts. I respect those views but I also think that this technology provides us with an opportunity to think again and to re-evaluate together as a community what this means. 
This bill is long overdue. For years we have put up with the silly situation whereby upon going into an Automobile Association office to sign up for a driver’s licence we suddenly often unexpectedly are faced with the chance to tick a box and say whether we are prepared to be a donor. Often we have not given it any thought at all and we make a snap decision. I know of many people who did not tick the box because they could think of parts of their body that they did not want to donate and other parts that they would be happy to donate. They did not get that option on the form and therefore they ticked “No”. The other aspect is that two very unrelated things—a driver’s licence and an organ donation system—are linked together and that very matter was one of the things the select committee looked at when Mr Tookey petitioned us. 
One of the things that I suggest would be an interesting consideration would be to look at the current blood donor system. People go in to give blood in donation mode. They may be very open at that stage to considering organ donation. When people have decided to be a donor we must follow up that offer with some really good information and encourage them to spend time talking to their families. Certainly since Mr Tookey brought his petition I have done just that with my family. We have discussed organ donation thoroughly. I have expressed my desire to be an organ donor. I have checked with my children who are now adults about what their desire would be if something befell them. We have talked about it really clearly and we all now know where we stand on that. 
I also mention in passing that one of my roles in my previous life was as a funeral celebrant. So I am very well acquainted with the trauma and emotional baggage that goes on when people have lost someone very close to them and I know how difficult it is to make a decision. We agree with surgeons that nobody wants to force a family who are grieving to go ahead with the donation against their will. That is why it is really important to have this discussion. We will support this bill. We think some changes need to be made but we congratulate the sponsor of the bill and we congratulate Andy Tookey. It is great that this discussion can now begin.