SAO PAULO: Brazilian authorities have opened a probe into the death of a newborn baby in a hospital that occurred when two doctors involved in the delivery allegedly came to blows, according to reports yesterday.

The medics involved in the incident on Tuesday have both been sacked, the news agency Agencia Estado said.

According to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, a 32-year-old woman, Gislaine Santana, was in labour requiring a cesarian section when the doctors’ fight erupted.

“It was a big fight. They ended up rolling around on the floor. And my wife was screaming for them to stop,” her husband, Gilberto Melo Cabreira, said.

A third doctor came into the room 90 minutes later to perform the cesarian, but by that time the woman had delivered her baby girl still-born.

“I don’t want to make accusations. But I can testify to one thing: up to the birth, my daughter was in full health,” the husband said.