A children's doctor who found out he had invasive cancer the day before the birth of his first child has died after a long battle against the disease.
Dr Ross MacLeod, a former Starship children's hospital trainee specialist, made headlines inJuly 1999, when the Auckland public health system would not pay for a drug he needed.
Conventional therapy had not worked for Dr MacLeod, and friends rallied to raise money for the drug, gemcitabine, which although used overseas was said to be too costly for a cash-strapped Auckland Hospital to afford.
He also ordered supplies of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract lyprinol as controversy raged over claims that it treated cancer.
Dr MacLeod spoke out in support of cancer sufferers being able to choose to take it, and try other controversial possible treatments.
He is survived by his wife, Victoria, and son, Hamish.
