11:05 AM |
Debate raised over whether it is culturally proper to donate deceased loved one's organs
Pacific Islands people living in New Zealand face difficult cultural challenges, the issue of whether to donate organs when a loved one dies is one of those challenges.
Pacific Scoop:
By Taberannang Korauaba.
A Kiribati family in South Auckland is being praised for its generosity for donating parts of their dead to New Zealand patients.
Despite that, there are still some uncertainties among the family because it is very unusual in their culture.
Professor of Maori Studies at the University of Auckland, Margaret Mutu, says she is not surprised because the Pacific islanders have some similarities with Maori.
"Maori people have long objected to the donation of their dead bodies because it's a violation of their culture. We want to bury the body as it is, and we don't want them to be cut," Margaret said.
She says if the Kiribati culture regards dead as sacred then it should be respected.
Rerebwati Taabane, 27, from the Pacific nation of Kiribati was a dead-brain patient, she died at the Auckland City Hospital on Thursday last week.
Uncle of the decease and spokesperson for the family, Amuera Tebau, says they were not comfortable when the doctors asked them if they could donate parts of the body. "In the end, the husband gave consent to have parts of her wife's body donated to patients he didn't even know," said Tebau.
Donor Coordinator in the Auckland City Hospital, Janice Langlands, says they usually give 15 or 30 minutes for a consultation with the family Langlands says she is aware with some Pacific cultures which prevents them from becoming donors.
However, Margaret says people need two or three days to discuss this with the family: "You can't get their consent in 15 or 30 minutes," she said.
A Kiribati priest based in Auckland, Arobati Rikare says the family deserved to be thanked for their generosity. And a Kiribati medical doctor living in New Zealand, Dr Matikora Marea, who have worked on the islands for nearly ten years says the donation of bodies was not practical in Kiribati because they don't have the facilities. "As far as I can remember, Kiribati health authorities have not raised this matter," she says.
Besides, the family also wanted to meet with the recipients. Langlands says they didn't encourage it. She said on several occasions recipients wrote back to thank the donor family. "But when will that happen is a matter of time," she says.
According to Tebau, Rerebwati donated parts of her dead son's body in Australia a few years back. Rerebwati is the daughter of late head of the Kiribati Protestant Church, Rev Baiteke Nabetari. She migrated with her 6 year old son and husband to New Zealand three years ago under the Pacific Access Category, a scheme that allows Pacific islanders to live in New Zealand permanently. Meanwhile the family is preparing the funeral for Rerebwati on Thursday in Pukekohe.
Taberannang Korauaba is a contributing writer based in New Zealand. He specialises in reporting Pacific issues, often with relevance to Kiribati.
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