<
https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-bmi-threshold-for-publicly-funded-fertility-treatment-is-outdated-and-unethical-heres-why-it-should-go-240295>
"Women seeking publicly funded fertility treatment in New Zealand must have a
body mass index (BMI) under 32, according to clinical priority assessment
criteria for access to assisted reproductive technology.
But as our in-depth interviews and a growing body of evidence show, this
approach is outdated and unethical.
One of our study participants described the system as “completely rigged if
you’re a fat person”. Nina, a 37-year-old dance teacher, was denied public
funding support to help her conceive because her BMI was above 32 – even though
the cause of infertility was her husband’s sperm count.
Nina is not alone. Paratta, who moved to Aotearoa from Sri Lanka in 2009, was
also denied because of her BMI. She raced to lose the required weight in spite
of a medical condition, but was then denied again because she had reached 40,
the age limit for access to public funding.
Both women’s experiences highlight New Zealand’s obsolete and discriminating
BMI limit. The United Kingdom does not include BMI as a criterion for public
funding, and international cutoffs are generally between 35 and 45.
We argue New Zealand’s BMI threshold must be scrapped to reflect impactful
research and respond ethically to New Zealand’s diverse population."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
