Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Monday said birth doulas must adhere to standard practice and requirements, among others, to provide their services which would affect the health and life of a mother and her child. Over the years, there have been few reported cases of mothers dying of complications due to unattended home births. According to the Malaysian Medical Association, doulas, whose role is to give emotional support to mothers, cannot replace trained midwives or doctors in childbirth.