Australia: No residency for boy with Down syndrome

[thundley4]

SYDNEY, Australia – A German doctor hoping to gain permanent residency in Australia said Friday he will fight an immigration department decision denying his application because his son has Down syndrome.
Bernhard Moeller came to Australia with his family two years ago to help fill a doctor shortage in a rural area of Victoria state.
His temporary work visa is valid until 2010, but his application for permanent residency was rejected this week. The immigration department said Moeller's 13-year-old son, Lukas, "did not meet the health requirement."
"A medical officer of the Commonwealth assessed that his son's existing medical condition was likely to result in a significant and ongoing cost to the Australian community," a departmental spokesman said in a statement issued Thursday by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Denied

Maybe we should start doing this with the illegals here. Start denying them all government benefits. Although , in this case, I think the Aussie government is wrong.

[Chris_]

Denied

Maybe we should start doing this with the illegals here. Start denying them all government benefits. Although , in this case, I think the Aussie government is wrong.

That is what socialized health care gets you -- they don't want to add someone to the rolls that will take more than they put in.

And I think every government has not just the right, but the duty to craft their immigration laws and rules to benefit that country.  I wish the USA would do that.

[DumbAss Tanker]

That is what socialized health care gets you -- they don't want to add someone to the rolls that will take more than they put in.

And I think every government has not just the right, but the duty to craft their immigration laws and rules to benefit that country.  I wish the USA would do that.

In this case it seems to be more a matter of bureaucratic policy and eugenics rather than a rational economic choice, however.

[Chris_]

In this case it seems to be more a matter of bureaucratic policy and eugenics rather than a rational economic choice, however.

Without knowing the whole of the health policy it is hard to say.  And as I said, I think it is a strong economic argument.

[thundley4]

That is what socialized health care gets you -- they don't want to add someone to the rolls that will take more than they put in.

And I think every government has not just the right, but the duty to craft their immigration laws and rules to benefit that country.  I wish the USA would do that.

The thing that I don't get, though, is that adding one more doctor should far outweigh adding one more patient. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Without knowing the whole of the health policy it is hard to say.  And as I said, I think it is a strong economic argument.

Losing a fully-educated career doctor to keep out one merely-potential patient who has a much-shorter-than-average life expectancy?  Doesn't appear to make economic sense.

[MrsSmith]

Losing a fully-educated career doctor to keep out one merely-potential patient who has a much-shorter-than-average life expectancy?  Doesn't appear to make economic sense.

I agree.  The doctor will add far more benefit than the son could possibly deduct.  It's not like Down Syndrome people can't work, anyway.  Many can do jobs like housekeeping quite well.

[Thor]

Kind of an odd thing coming from the Aussies. After all, the country was established by sending all the derelicts and ne'er do wells there. I also want to think that it was once a leper colony, too, but I'm not real certain about that, off the top of my head.

[thundley4]

Kind of an odd thing coming from the Aussies. After all, the country was established by sending all the derelicts and ne'er do wells there. I also want to think that it was once a leper colony, too, but I'm not real certain about that, off the top of my head.

I don't remember lepers being sent there, but there was a couple of leper colonies there and also at least in Hawaii.

[Thor]

I don't remember lepers being sent there, but there was a couple of leper colonies there and also at least in Hawaii.

I could be wrong on the leper colony thing and I even said so.

[CharlesD]

This story is a shame, but it came at a good time.  I've been engaged in a rather spirited government health care argument on another board and this story will come in handy.  You have to find the silver lining in everything.

[LC EFA]

The rules, while they might be stupid, are still the rules.

My problem with stories like this, is that the people in this case tried, followed the law and will most likely abide by the decision, while many (most completely unskilled) who intentionally and knowingly break the laws to enter or remain in this country are granted their leave to stay.

Now , if this person had been called "Mohammad", had a primary skill base of "rag picker", and had entered the country illegally after passing through most of SE Asia, the leftists would be tripping on their dicks trying to keep him here.

[formerlurker]

Ok I get it.  Don't you dare abort them, but we sure as hell don't want them......

A family comes to Australia because they were recruited to do so, they settle in there and provide a critical need for two years and then their application for citizenship gets denied because their child is special needs and is thus perceived as too much of a financial risk?

This is a sound practice that we should adopt????!!  Are you kidding me right now?   

 

[Chris_]

Ok I get it.  Don't you dare abort them, but we sure as hell don't want them......

A family comes to Australia because they were recruited to do so, they settle in there and provide a critical need for two years and then their application for citizenship gets denied because their child is special needs and is thus perceived as too much of a financial risk?

This is a sound practice that we should adopt????!!  Are you kidding me right now?   :banghead:

 

Your analogy is a non sequitur.  This story has nothing to do with abortion.  And I saw no indication the family was recruited.

The country has laws and those laws have to be followed.  The subject of the OP should have familiarized himself with those laws before voluntarily throwing his lot in with Australia.
 

[formerlurker]

Your analogy is a non sequitur.  This story has nothing to do with abortion.  And I saw no indication the family was recruited.

The country has laws and those laws have to be followed.  The subject of the OP should have familiarized himself with those laws before voluntarily throwing his lot in with Australia.
 

Don McRae, director of clinical services at Wimmera Health Care Group, said the hospital had invested a lot of time and energy in recruiting the German specialist to Horsham, about 100 miles northwest of Melbourne.

The abortion analogy was offered to counter the "sound economic argument" statement as one can surely cite the economic factor in chosing to abort a child with downs syndrome.    Should economics play a part in that decision?  surely not.   The same applies to considering a disability in factoring whether or not someone is worthy to become a citizen of a country.   I think it is a sickening policy.

[Chris_]

The hospital's investment in the doctor does not equate to the country recruiting him.

The abortion analogy was offered to counter the "sound economic argument" statement as one can surely cite the economic factor in chosing to abort a child with downs syndrome.    Should economics play a part in that decision?  surely not.   

Strawman.  The individual decision to bring a potentially troublesome fetus to term has nothing to do with a country's decision to ensure its immigration policies are for the good of the country.  God knows the USA would be a lot better off if we did so.

The same applies to considering a disability in factoring whether or not someone is worthy to become a citizen of a country.   I think it is a sickening policy.

Then I hope you are ready to throw open the US boarders to every person with a disabled child in the world because your sympathy overwhelms your logic.

[formerlurker]

You are really reaching here.   As Australia has socialized medicine the good doctor was certainly recruited by the government.   

A doctor who relocates to a country to provide a a critical service is denied citizenship because his child has special needs?   Sorry, that defies logic. 

The family should be considered based on the ability of the adults to provide for themselves and their family.   Clearly this doctor meets that bar and exceeds it.   I would hope and expect that the US follows that mindset, not the one you have endorsed here. 

The reasons why a couple would choose to abort a child with special needs certainly would include the financial impact on the family, i.e. "burden."   It shouldn't but it does.   Denying a hard working highly qualified professional family citizenship for some perceived financial burden that child may have on the country is equally disgusting.   

[Chris_]

You are really reaching here.   As Australia has socialized medicine the good doctor was certainly recruited by the government.   

A doctor who relocates to a country to provide a a critical service is denied citizenship because his child has special needs?   Sorry, that defies logic. 

The family should be considered based on the ability of the adults to provide for themselves and their family.   Clearly this doctor meets that bar and exceeds it.   I would hope and expect that the US follows that mindset, not the one you have endorsed here. 

The reasons why a couple would choose to abort a child with special needs certainly would include the financial impact on the family, i.e. "burden."   It shouldn't but it does.   Denying a hard working highly qualified professional family citizenship for some perceived financial burden that child may have on the country is equally disgusting.   

I don't think I am reaching at all and I don't think you are seeing the big picture here.  There is no indication in the OP that this doctor was recruited.  It also would make no sense for such recruitment not to include all the qualifications for citizenship, including wellness requirements.

What if it was  Tay-Sachs?  MS?  MLS?  Spinabiffida? I could go on and on. 

As I said in my earlier post, this is probably part of a broader rule about who can and can't come in to use a country's resources, especially nationalized health.

Right now in the USA, the Down's Syndrome would be a non-issue.  Under socialized medicine like the messiahnfuhrer wants????  Probably it would be a big issue.

Bottom line: Countries have immigration rules they craft to theoretically look after their own best interests.  They are neither "good" nor "bad" -- they just are.

[formerlurker]

Lukas Moeller's application for residency was denied despite his father moving there from Germany to help fill a shortage of doctors in rural areas.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship turned down the family's application because Lukas' condition was "likely to result in a significant and ongoing cost to the Australian community".

The case has caused outcry in the rural region of Horsham, in Victoria state, where Bernhard Moeller is the only doctor for a community of 54,000 people.

Dr Moeller said: "They think he is a burden for the Australian community.

"But we are absolutely able to support him and I don't want him to rely on any government pension anyway. He's well looked after.

"And actually he can contribute to the community here. He already is contributing to it."


The case with the Australian authorities is disappointing and unacceptable - especially because Australia has very advanced programs for people with Down's syndrome.

Cora Halder, head of the Down's Syndrome InfoCenter in Germany

Dr Moeller moved to Australia two years ago with his wife Isabella, their daughter Sarah, and sons Lukas and Felix.

His temporary work visa is valid until 2010, but his application for permanent residence was rejected this week.

A statement from the Department for Immigaration said: "This is not discrimination.

"A disability in itself is not grounds for failing the health requirement - it is a question of the cost implications to the community."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Australia-Downs-Syndrome-Boy-Lukas-Moeller-Refused-Residency/Article/200811115139808?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15139808_Australia%3A_Downs_Syndrome_Boy_Lukas_Moeller_Refused_Residency

A little more info, which makes this decision even more ridiculous.   

[Chris_]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Australia-Downs-Syndrome-Boy-Lukas-Moeller-Refused-Residency/Article/200811115139808?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15139808_Australia%3A_Downs_Syndrome_Boy_Lukas_Moeller_Refused_Residency

A little more info, which makes this decision even more ridiculous.   

It may not be in the best interests of that community but that has never been my point.

[formerlurker]

It may not be in the best interests of that community but that has never been my point.

I think with socialized medicine, this is a government matter and not exclusive to this community.   

[Thor]

...  The individual decision to bring a potentially troublesome fetus to term has nothing to do with a country's decision to ensure its immigration policies are for the good of the country.  God knows the USA would be a lot better off if we did so.

Until Kennedy, the fat bastard murderer, got a hold of the immigration laws and got them changed, the US USED to do JUST that. We only allowed folks here that were either seeking political asylum or they had something really good to offer the country for the longest time.

[djones520]

Until Kennedy, the fat bastard murderer, got a hold of the immigration laws and got them changed, the US USED to do JUST that. We only allowed folks here that were either seeking political asylum or they had something really good to offer the country for the longest time.

So the tens of thousands of immigrants that came into New York where all screened for job skills prior to being allowed entry?

[rich_t]

So the tens of thousands of immigrants that came into New York where all screened for job skills prior to being allowed entry?

Depends on the time frame in question.   

[Thor]

Depends on the time frame in question.   

Exactly. I think it was from the 30s or 40s through the mid to late 60s.