21 Nov 2018

Senior doctors urge end to unnecessary tongue-tie cuts

From Morning Report, 6:40 am on 21 November 2018

Senior doctors want to put a stop to what they say is unnecessary, painful and potentially dangerous surgery being done on tongue-tied newborns. The thin piece of skin joining the underside of the tongue to the lower jaw is cut and it's supposed to help babies who have trouble breastfeeding. It's done on hundreds of infants every year and doctors worry it's being massively over-diagnosed and treated, particularly by midwives. Christchurch neonatal paediatrician Bronwyn Dixon says there are clear risks.