KEY POINTS:
Taxpayers could foot a $5 million bill to support a sick Romanian boy whose family lied so they could stay in New Zealand.
The child's parents kept his life-threatening blood disorder secret from immigration authorities amid fears he could die if sent home, the Dominion Post reported today.
Auckland District Health Board staff told the Deportation Review Tribunal the cost of providing continuing treatment for Adrian Vilceanu, 11, boy could climb to $5 million if he lived until the age of 50.
The tribunal found his parents, Romanian citizens Cezar and Constanta Camelia Vilceanu, had deliberately withheld information because they wanted better treatment for Adrian than he was receiving in Romania.
Adrian's blood condition means he needs monthly blood transfusions and injections up to seven times a week.
He has already received several blood transfusions in Romania.
His parents said they were worried the Romanian blood transfusions would be infected with HIV and that funding problems meant the chelation injections he needed to remove iron build-up in his blood would not always be available.
The family incorrectly answered "no" to four questions about Adrian's health during a Romanian medical examination to support their residence application.
They told the tribunal they believed they had a duty to give their son the chance of "a normal life and a healthy environment".
Adrian could live to more than 50 in the "right conditions" whereas in Romania his life expectancy was about 20 years.
District health board staff estimated the cost of Adrian's medical treatment between January 2004 and January 2006 at $57,000.
Treatment could cost up to $5 million over a 50-year life span.
The boy's doctor told the tribunal his patient was thriving here and any interruption to his treatment would be dangerous.
The tribunal decided the family could remain in New Zealand because Adrian's health was at risk if he was sent back.
The decision says: "We accept that prioritising and allocating funds for healthcare in New Zealand are indeed matters of serious public concern.
"However...the humanitarian factors in this particular case outweigh any of these other considerations."
The tribunal noted Romania's health system was underfunded and subject to corruption.
It also noted changes to blood-testing requirements meant it was no longer possible for potential immigrants to arrive in New Zealand without authorities being aware of such a disorder.
The tribunal found Adrian's highly educated parents had brought valuable skills to New Zealand.
- NZPA
