A doctor said to have shouted rudely at a woman giving birth to her first child in Southland Hospital, Invercargill, is being referred to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
The child, a girl, died the day after she was born in mid-2006.
According to evidence gathered by Health
and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, the doctor told the woman rudely to stop talking and push.
The mother said the American doctor showed a lack of respect and the father described the doctor's approach as "shut up and push".
The midwife and lead maternity carer said the doctor was "so rude, telling her to shut her mouth". Mr Paterson said in a report released yesterday that on the basis of the evidence the doctor showed a "lack of respect" for the woman by asking her to reduce her noise during contractions "in a manner that was perceived as berating".
The doctor maintained he was not rude but always spoke loudly and waved his hands.
He said that "to quiet, restrained New Zealanders, this may at times appear intimidating".
Mr Paterson also found that the doctor's obstetric care fell well below an appropriate standard.
After a difficult birth and bleeding from a torn umbilicus, the baby's condition deteriorated in neo-natal care.
Clinicians suspected haemorrhaging in the space between the skull and scalp.
She was flown to Dunedin Hospital the next day but died, despite intensive care, soon after.
The parents of the child complained to the commissioner about the appropriateness of care provided by the doctor to the mother and the baby, and similarly about the care provided by Southland DHB to the baby.
The woman complained the doctor failed to provide her and her baby with adequate care, said the doctor treated her disrespectfully and didn't give her the opportunity to make an informed choice about delivery options.
Mr Paterson cleared the hospital but has referred the doctor - who quit in September 2006 - to the tribunal for a decision on whether proceedings should be taken against him.
The report is also going to the Medical Council recommending that it review the doctor's competence "should he return to practise in New Zealand".
- NZPA
