Letter: Home births

Sir: Marina Baker wrote: "I've met more sensitive vets than the doctors who attended me."

As well as being a trainee NCT ante-natal teacher, I am also a veterinary surgeon, and was bewildered and offended by the implication that vets are naturally less sensitive than the medical profession.

The majority of the pet-owning public treat their pets as though they were children, and a considerable amount of tact, sensitivity and diplomacy is required on the part of the veterinarian. In addition, most vets are skilled at obstetrics and gynaecology in a number of different species, perhaps giving them a distinct advantage over some GPs if ever called to deal with a parturient human female.

Mrs M H LLOYD MRCVS

Radley, Oxfordshire