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A midwife's management of the birth of a boy who subsequently died has been criticised by the Health and Disability Commissioner.
In his report, Ron Paterson found the district health board midwife, who has routine name suppression, was wrong not to call an obstetrician earlier in the 18-year-old's labour.
She also erred by not performing an episiotomy - a surgical procedure to widen the birth canal - to hasten the baby's birth.
He concluded that "Ms B" failed to provide midwifery services of reasonable care and skill in the June 2005 delivery. Mr Paterson also recommended that she apologise to the mother and brush up on her skills.
The baby was born brain-damaged due to lack of oxygen.
He spent two weeks in the hospital's neonatal unit before being sent home, where he died three months later.
An Accident Compensation Corporation report concluded that the involvement of an obstetrician may not have changed the outcome.
Midwifery Council chairwoman Sally Pairman said the council decided against a competency review of Ms B after receiving a long and detailed analysis from the midwife on what had happened.
"It is obvious she has learned a huge amount from this experience and that's what we want," Ms Pairman said.
- NZPA
