At the end of this article i Fat Bastard will point out the folly of New Zealand's anti fat policy.
Art Caplan, Ph.D.
NBC News contributor
New Zealand's immigration authorities think they have gotten to the
core of solving the obesity epidemic and rising health costs-- deport
fat people. A 50 year-old, 286-pound South African citizen no longer has
an "acceptable standard of health" to remain in the country where
nearly a third of adults are overweight, according to reports.
Albert
Buitenhuis and his wife, Marthie, 47, moved to Christchurch, New
Zealand from South Africa six years ago. They are now facing
deportation after their work visas were declined because of his weight.
New Zealand immigration authorities cited the demands his obesity could
place on New Zealand’s health services in terms of cost.
When
Albert, 5’ 8”, arrived to take a job as a chef, he topped 350 pounds.
Yet he has worked, as has his waitress wife, paid taxes and managed to
lose more than 60 pounds, according to The Press of New Zealand. His
doctor says Buitenhuis, who has a chronic knee condition, is on his way
to getting his blood pressure down and his weight under control.
For
the first five years, no one seemed to think that Albert could not fit
in New Zealand. But, suddenly, the authorities have decided he must
leave. His wife, who is not obese, is on his work visa, so she must
follow him to the loading dock.
The associate immigration minister of New Zealand is expected to decide on the case in the next week.
Albert
is appealing his deportation. And he should. While some nations such as
the U.S. tried to prevent immigration for those who were HIV positive
that was mainly due to worries about contagion. Obesity, while recently
categorized by the American Medical Association as a disease, is not
contagious. New Zealand, as far as is known, is not trying to get rid of
smokers -- who are both costly to care for and can harm others -- or
those who have herpes or other sexually transmitted diseases.
New Zealand immigration laws don't specifically mention weight as cause for deportation, but list medical conditions such
as HIV, hepatitis B or cardiac diseases "deemed to impose significant
costs and/or demands" on the country's health or education services. New
Zealand's health care system, funded through general taxes, provides free medical care to all permanent residents.
Some
think New Zealand is on the right track. New Zealand may believe
publicly shaming the bloated is a solution to the obesity epidemic or
escalation of health care costs. But deporting Albert, especially while
he is losing weight, looks for all the world like a sudden attack of
unbridled prejudice.
Fat Bastardo's Comment:
Here is why New Zealand is stupid and wrong. In the short term we fatlings do increase health care costs but because we fattlings die sooner so we actually cost the health care system less in the long term. Our initial high use of health care resources actually simulates the economy due to the influx of money the government spends on our behalf. - i Fat Bastardo -
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