We Need More Ms Iyengars

I am utterly shocked and disgusted that a doctor who’s spent her professional life dedicated to the betterment of women’s health in her specialty– obstetrics and gynaecology — should be so vilified.

In 2002, Ms Vasu Iyengar saved both my life and that of my unborn baby when I suffered a placental abruption and haemorrhage (where the placenta rips away from the uterus). My son is now a happy, healthy five-and-a-half-year-old.

She was a wonderful doctor and I knew I was in capable hands with her during and after my pregnancy.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that obstetrics and gynaecology is a specialty that carries specific risk.

New Zealand is also severely short of obstetricians and gynaecologists and, given that this profession is over-represented in complaints to the health and disability commissioner, that’s hardly surprising. Why would any doctor want to practise in this hostile, punitive environment?

For the sake of New Zealand women, we desperately need doctors like Ms Iyengar to continue to practise obstetrics and gynaecology here.

We don’t want them to join the stampede to better wages and conditions in Australia.

JENNY FENTON

Normandale

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