Labour has lost its bid for a parliamentary inquiry into artificial hip joints which have been recalled in other countries.
The party's health spokeswoman, Maryan Street, says 507 Kiwis have been fitted with the metal-on-metal implants made by Johnson and Johnson.
She wanted the health select committee to hold an inquiry but government MPs blocked her move.
"It is dereliction of duty," she said.
"National needs to explain why it has blocked an inquiry into the implants when an inquiry in Australia, lawsuits in the US and an investigation in the UK have led to the devices being recalled."
Ms Street says if the hip joints are faulty they can cause metal toxicity which can lead to cardiac arrest, renal failure and fatal strokes.
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