KEY POINTS:
The family of a double killer's victims have reacted with anger to news he is to receive a life-saving operation estimated to cost the taxpayer $1 million.
Jason Reihana was last month jailed with a non-parole period of 21 years - one of the longest ever.
But it was revealed yesterday that Reihana has leukaemia and is to receive a bone-marrow transplant.
Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Daz
A convicted killer should get a needle put in their arm alright but certainly not as the first step in a million dollar operation, rather the American-style of justice. Give the million to the victim's family. Not the first time our PC country extends a helping hand to those who clearly should not be assisted while ignoring the real citizens in need.
Luke Mason
No. He chose to do what he did and in another time would have got the death penalty, now he will be treated like any other human being. Considering what he did to his victims, the world seems such an unfair place. I just prey that if there is an afterlife, that he'll burn in hell.
Madeleine Ware
Maybe Reihana will do the decent thing and refuse to have the operation. And maybe, if we took the money normally spent on rugby-related accoutrements and America's Cup challenges and diseases suffered by people who have, like Reihana, also made poor choices (e.g. smoking and obesity-related illnesses) and spent it on medical research instead, then leukaemia treatment wouldn't cost a staggering $1 million.
Rob
In a just society this murderer should have been executed by the state then we wouldn't have to worry about PC crap like this. Criminals should not have the same rights as law abiding citizens. Let him die it's what should have happened when he was convicted.
Sarah (Christchurch)
It's a sad day for sick New Zealanders when a criminal is offered better care than non offenders. There are many cancer sufferers denied the best care because of cost who will see this prisoner get the most advance care available, while they are told that there aren't enough beds, dollars or technicians available to treat them. How many cancer sufferers will die because this prisoner is getting treatment?
In an ideal world, yes everyone should have the same rights and opportunities, but it isn't an ideal world and many people are denied medical care because it is too expensive and there isn't enough money in the budget. I say let nature take its course with this murder.
Selina
This is a total travesty and a slap in the face to the victims and their families. This guy committed murder, and gets a second chance at life what a joke. I totally agree with David Gunn, that people who commit serious crimes should not be allowed major operations, especially when there are so many "real needy" good people waiting on our hospital lists. Our justice system just gets worse and worse, as these criminals appear to get it all. Maybe the old saying of "Crime doesn't pay" should be replaced with "Crime does pay" you get everything. Maybe the Minister of Justice should step in?
William
He should not get a million dollar operation. Doctors are making this sort of decision all the time. He should get medical care as it is humane to do so made comfortable as was my mother who was denied a life saving operation because she was too old.
Peter (Auckland Central)
I am glad to see a number of people have pinpointed the core problem behind the issue of Reihana and his treatment for leukaemia, and that is the fact that those convicted of serious violent/sexual offences have the same rights as law-abiding citizens and worse, their victims and/or victim's families. This Government however is not at fault, although they have done nothing to remedy it either. To be fair neither did the previous National government. I sincerely hope that the next one will correct this. As for this particular case, the best solution was that proposed earlier put him on the waiting list for treatment, but prioritise other more deserving cases as they enter the system. That way it cannot be said that he is being denied treatment, just that it is postponed rather a lot as happens to many far more deserving individuals. But ultimately, we need to review the assumptions that underpin not only our "justice" system but society in general, so that those who show no respect for the basic human rights of the vulnerable, the poor and more or less law abiding citizens in general forfeit rights in proportion to the extent of the consequences of their actions.
Rugger chick
"No" how simpler could it be.
Satch
He should be kept comfortable and allowed to go as nature would intend without medical intervention. This is his execution.
Dean Armstrong
This is a catch-22. The kids have no mother and to do away with the father too is disastrous from the kids point of view. Then to plunge $1m into his healthcare after killing 2 people an absolute nightmare to sort out. Helen please give the money to the kids to make up the damage their father has done to their future and therefore forfeit his health first aid which he doesn't deserve.
Steve (Wanganui)
There is a duty to care for prisoners. Not providing essential health care to prisoners would be akin to execution and we do not have capital punishment in New Zealand. However this man should wait his turn, I need medical care and can't even get on to a waiting list. I have to hang on until my condition worsens enough to be considered an emergency, when emergency treatment will suddenly be available and will probably cost heaps more than prompt preventive treatment would have. We are spending a fortune on a mass of bureaucrats who don't appear to be applying simple common sense to running our health system. Articulate and influential middle class people should be forcing change but are just opting out by buying health insurance or paying directly for care. In fact they are paying twice and that seems fairly stupid.
Concerned citizen
I think that anyone who takes a life should not have the option or given the option of getting such treatment. We do not have the death penalty but what he's got is a punishment for what he does. Why do we give him that privilege and have that money distribute through the agency who looks after battered women or the kids who are left without a mother. So there are more deserving organisations or persons to spend that money on.
Concerned NZ Taxpayer
With the current long delays for surgery and poor unresourced health system, why are we doing such a wasteful thing for someone who is not an asset to our community. Let's spend this money on a worthwhile New Zealander who adds value to our community, who is/has been on a public waiting list.
No Way
This guy should absolutely not be given the operation. He has forfeited his rights to be part of society. At the very least his victims' families should be compensated the same amount of money as well. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a truly warped individual, given what he did to these people.
Concerned
Re: the comment from Email the PM "Let her know that you will not be a donor should this go ahead. I have." Would you rather see many other patients suffer just because this man is receiving treatment? This really saddens me, as do the calls to kill this man rather than fix the system.
Marns
I agree whole heartedly with the vast majority that believe that he should not receive this operation. The issue clearly illustrates, yet again, the very real inequity that exists in this country between the law/tax abiding and the criminal, the worthless and the morally bankrupt. The reprobates, perverts and crocks in this country receive more consideration than anyone else and are granted extraordinary privileges by our left-wing, socialist government. The same government who continues to demonstrate they are less interested in fairness than in peddling their sanctimonious piety that's dressed up as an attempt to bring equality and correctness to a society "in need of education". Big difference between the "haves" and the "have nots" in this country. If you have morals, you have not a hope in hell of getting justice, in any form. Added to this, prison is meant to dissuade criminal activity by a loss of liberty, our crocks vote, (funny that were you really that desperate for votes thanks Helen) they shag, they do drugs. I bet Paris Hilton is gutted she didn't get a shot at doing time in NZ.
TM
Sorry. He should have been executed for his crimes. They are up there with the worst & by the look of him in his Herald photo he couldn't care less about what he has done. We live in a brutal world with a Government that underfunds everything and then comes up with pots of cash at election time. This guy shouldn't be given the time of day and should get pain relief only until he pops off to the downstairs oven where he belongs! But he will get his care while decent law abiding NZers get nothing. They will suffer because we have a socialist (communist!) government that could not care less about anything other than being re-elected.
Darcy
No, he shouldn't receive an operation as he doesn't deserve to live.
Leonie Thorburn
It is appalling that this convicted killer warrants a step to the top of the ladder when normal, everyday, good, hardworking people have to wait on long lists to get a necessary operation. It really does seem that the more you try to help yourself in our country, the more you are penalised for it. It is about time the decent citizens stood up and said enough is enough as it seems that crime does pay after all.
Matt (Pukekohe)
Just another prime example of what a joke our government and legal system is. Bring back the death penalty for people like this critter who don't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of us at the same time costing the tax payer millions. When are we going to wake up and elect a decent government and get this country back on the right track.
Pete
I don't think we can deny this man treatment, however much we disagree with what he has done. He should join the waiting list for the operation, at the bottom. He would get the treatment, but perhaps not as soon as he would like. The waiting list is so long, even some very deserving people don't get treatment in time. I'm sure the priorities on the list are constantly reassessed, with more deserving cases coming along on a daily basis. We will all be very sad when the prisoner passes away, unfortunately still on the waiting list for treatment. I think that would be the most effective compromise, which will satisfy both sides of the argument.
Auckland Cdog
This is so typical of how crap the NZ justice system is. There are innocent, kind people out there who are dying and can't afford treatments or medication. Then there is a convicted murderer of two, who is getting VIP special treatment. This is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard of. They commit an inhuman act, so why should we treat him with any humanity now. Wake up for God's sake!
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