Condolences To The Whanau Of Rau Williams
The MP for Te Taitokerau and the Minister of Maori Affairs, the
Hon Tau Henare, today expressed his condolences to the whanau
of Rau Williams.
Mr Henare said Rau Williams had become a beacon of hope for people
on hospital waiting lists around the country in a similar position.
"Rau Williams' death is a terrible, terrible thing.
"I've been told many things since this man's predicament became
publicly known - mostly that the decision to take Rau Williams
off dialysis treatment was sound clinical judgement.
"Well, now Mr Williams is dead and I hope the people that made
that decision are happy because what's become blatantly clear
over the past few days is that it was always a decision about
rationing.
"For me this issue was always about the right to live. Dialysis
treatment would have prolonged Rau Williams' life, even if it
was for only a little longer, at least he would have still been
alive today.
"I went to see Mr Williams last week at Whangarei Hospital and
it was plain as day then he was coherent and had a strong desire
to live.
"There are a number of lessons to be learnt here but instead
of clouding the tragedy of what's happened here with political
rhetoric can I say to the whanau of Rau Williams: ki mai koe
ki au, he aha te mea nui o tenei a, maku e kii atu, he tangata,
he tangata, he tangata. (Translation: If you should ask me,
what is the most important thing in the world, I would say to
you it is man, it is man, it is man.)
ENDS
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