Controversial obstetrician suspended by Sydney hospital

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Controversial obstetrician suspended by Sydney hospital

By Kate Aubusson and Rachel Clun

A major Sydney hospital has suspended a prominent obstetrician whose comments in blaming female doctors for an "increasingly vulnerable" medical workforce sparked outrage among the profession and public.

Nepean Hospital has barred Professor Hans Peter Dietz from practising following a series of media articles detailing his comments - widely condemned as "gender-based discrimination" - and a patient complaint to the hospital.

Professor Hans Peter Dietz.

Professor Hans Peter Dietz.Credit: Youtube

The action effectively prevents Professor Dietz from working, considering Nepean is the only hospital at which he holds privileges. It has shut down his two clinical trials, testing surgical methods for tears and overstretching caused by vaginal birth trauma.

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District did not respond to questions regarding Professor Dietz being expelled.

In a statement, a spokesman said the district "does not tolerate any forms of harassment, discrimination or bullying" and "alleged incidents brought to our attention are investigated and appropriate action taken if any breaches of our code of conduct have been found to occur".

The Health Care Complaints Commission has also received several complaints about Professor Dietz, which are being assessed.

In November, Professor Dietz was publicly denounced by dozens of both female and male doctors, as well as his own college - the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - for comments he made in an email chain to fellow council members of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF).

In the emails, Professor Dietz said women were more likely to drop out and fall ill, and were more expensive to train because they spent fewer years practising.

ASMOF is representing Professor Dietz as he opposes Nepean Hospital's action in a dispute before the Industrial Relations Commission.

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A source familiar with the dispute said Nepean Hospital's reasons for expelling Professor Dietz were vague, and ASMOF has asked the hospital to provide further information, which was expected this week.

In November, ASMOF appointed Sydney barrister Larissa Andelman to conduct an independent investigation into member complaints against Professor Dietz after the emails were leaked.

Professor Dietz said he was unable to comment on the matter for legal reasons.

But he said a Guardian article published in November included a number of accusations he considered defamatory and others nonsensical.

The article reported allegations that Professor Dietz had made numerous sexist and condescending comments to a number of academic midwives between 2000 and 2018, and suggested women should sign a consent form if they wanted to give birth vaginally.

Professor Dietz and the midwives are on opposing sides of protracted hostilities over the perennially contest battleground - women giving birth. Midwives are seeking to increase the rates of vaginal birth as caesarean rates rise, while Professor Dietz is pushing for greater recognition of vaginal birth trauma.

"Several of the allegations, some dating back almost 20 years, are patently untrue and have already been rejected by the bodies involved," he said.

"I consider this a form of public bullying intended to silence criticism of natural childbirth ideology and activism," he said, "And if our research here in Sydney is shut down, which seems increasingly likely, it will be done elsewhere."

Professor Dietz is highly regarded for his research and strong advocacy for women who have experienced vaginal birth trauma, co-founding the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA).

Several colleagues rejected the notion he is sexist, and lamented the effect the controversy will have on his ability to continue his work.

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Dr John Pardey, a senior gynaecologist who has worked with Professor Dietz, said the professor was also a "powerful advocate for junior doctors", but he perhaps handled interpersonal relationships less well than others.

Midwife Jane Turnnidge said Professor Dietz saved her life after she suffered serious complications in child birth years earlier, and urged the hospital to reinstate him.

"Women have no greater friend than Professor Dietz," she said. "Every day, he is going in to bat for his obstetric patients, for his gynaecology patients, for birth trauma victims, for women and babies in all manner of ways."

"To dismiss someone as talented and vital to the profession over what amounts to a trivial matter of hurt feelings flies in the face of freedom of speech, logic, commonsense and rationality."

Professor Dietz’s research was being conducted under his academic position at the University of Sydney.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the University of Sydney said, "We are aware of Nepean Hospital’s decision. As this is a matter involving a current staff member, we are not able to disclose internal discussions or processes. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

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