Labour MP Trevor Mallard says he could support part of a controversial petition he's presented to parliament.
He's serving life in prison for killing Dean Browne with a hammer in Wellington in 2010.
Mallard told Mike Hosking he's unsure about prisoners fathering children via artificial insemination, but could support the rest of the petition.
"If I had a kid who needed a kidney transplant or looking for a rare blood transfusion, then the fact it was a prisoner, I don't think would make a difference. If it saved a life, I think you'd be going for it."
Mallard said he's also unsure which way they public would swing, should the petition make its way through parliament.
"I'm pretty sure on the sperm donation they wouldn't be behind it, but I'm not sure where they'd fall on rare blood types or organs that would save lives."
"Most organ donations come from people I understand who are brain-dead, but there are some organs like kidneys which can be made available."
He said he wouldn't like us to become like China, where prisoners' organs are harvested.
Meanwhile, Fertility Associates founder, Dr Richard Fisher, said prisoners donating sperm might be acceptable under some circumstances but they would be very limited.
Dr Fisher told Mike Hosking we absolutely have a shortage of sperm, but the choice about whose sperm is used is made by the recipient couples.
"You'd have to find a circumstance in which someone who was a recipient thought that using the sperm from a person who was in prison was reasonable for them and what they wanted and in the best interests in the resulting child."
He said it's very unlikely a couple would chose a prisoner as a sperm donor.
"But if it was a personal donation, I can see a circumstance under which a family might think that's in their best interests
Dr Fisher said the company would then have to decide whether it was legal and if there was any other reason it shouldn't take place.
LISTEN ABOVE AS TREVOR MALLARD AND DR RICHARD FISHER SPEAK WITH MIKE HOSKING
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