A group of medical experts have issued an open letter urging the Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and his wife Permaisuri Raja Zartih Sofia to intervene and raise awareness about the dangers of homebirths without a doctor's supervision.

This follows the death of a newborn in the southern state, following a homebirth supervised by a doula or birth coach.

The doctors, banded under the Medical Mythbusters Malaysia Facebook group, said the death occurred after the parents did not seek hospital treatment after allegedly being influenced by the doula.

"As a sultan of the people, who is loved and respected by all Johoreans, we humbly request your aid in helping us, as medical practitioners who are active on social media, to raise awareness about this.

"We ask that you help us on this issue to stop the loss of innocent lives... We hope for Your Majesty's support so that a thorough, detailed and transparent investigation can be done by the authorities.

"We can't bear to hear about another case like this happening to anyone. A baby dying, a mother in confinement without her baby, a father in mourning over the loss of his heir," the doctors wrote in the letter.

Medical Mythbusters Malaysia is a group made up of 57 doctors, professors, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians and medical assistants.

Doulas are not medical professionals, and typically get certification through workshops.

In Western countries, doulas provide expectant mothers with emotional and physical support, with studies suggesting a positive effect on labour and delivery outcomes.

Doulas also assist with natural births. However, their role is typically not to offer medical advice.

Medical Mythbusters Malaysia claimed that in Malaysia, however, there have been several infant deaths involving doula-assisted homebirths over the last several years.

However, they said that no action can be taken against the doulas as they do not introduce themselves as doctors, midwives, or as professionals accredited by any authority, including the Health Ministry.

"When deaths or disasters occur, they (the Malaysian doulas) give the excuse the complications occurred because of the parents' choices.

"As a result, these doulas are still free to promote their activities and hold birthing classes nationwide... (Additionally,) the charges that they impose on pregnant mothers to attend their classes are mind-boggling," the group said.