Hearing to be held in June for obstetrician charged with misconduct

A hearing will be held in June for the American obstetrician who has been charged with professional misconduct after a baby he helped deliver died from a brain bleed.

Ella Irihapti McMillan-Meager died at Southland Hospital on June 12, 2006 after obstetrician Enrique Tomeu breached guidelines during her birth two days earlier.

An inquest into Ella's death found Dr Tomeu contributed to the baby's death when he climbed on the birthing bed to get better leverage for his pull on suction cups.

Dr Tomeu subsequently resigned and returned to the United States to continue working as an obstetrician.

In October, director of proceedings for the Health and Disability Commission, Theo Baker, laid a charge of professional misconduct against Dr Tomeu with the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT).

HPDT executive officer Gay Fraser told The Southland Times, a hearing had been set down from June 8 to June 12, at Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill.

- NZPA