Italian minister apologizes after delivery room fight

Italy's health minister has apologised to a woman for a fight between two doctors in the delivery room as she was about to give birth.

The authorities are investigating whether the woman suffered complications as a result of the row.

Laura Salpietro, 30, had her uterus removed and her baby boy suffered heart problems and possible brain damage at birth on Thursday in Messina, Sicily.

Her husband Matteo Molonia says the confrontation delayed a C-section.

After a heated exchange of words, one of the doctors seized his colleague by the neck and shoved him into a wall, according to Mr Molonia's account to police, reports said.