3rd & 4th Degree Tear Compensation Claims
If you are experiencing bowel leakage and suspect that you have an unrepaired 3rd or 4th degree childbirth tear, talk to a specialist solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
3rd and 4th degree tears
3rd and 4th degree tears are a risk of vaginal childbirth. Guidelines recognise this possible complication of childbirth and recommend how maternity staff should address this eventuality. However, errors continue to be made and women are sometimes discharged with an unidentified and unrepaired severe tear which completely undermines the quality of their life.
Most women experience a tear around the vagina during childbirth. Usually these are a 1st or 2nd degree tear. Occasionally, however a 3rd or 4th degree tear develops. This may be associated with an instrumental delivery or being a first-time mother.
A 3rd or 4th degree tear goes beyond the perineum and causes damage to a woman's anal muscles. The further the tear extends, the worse the woman's symptoms may be.
These shocking and debilitating tears cause incontinence of wind and faeces and can, if a woman with a 4th degree tear then develops a fistula between her anus and vagina, she may experience leakage via the vagina and may need a stoma to be fitted.
The psychological, practical and financial impact can be devastating.
Claiming compensation for negligence
Competent maternity care should ensure that these appalling injuries are diagnosed and repaired so that the new mother's symptoms are resolved.
If negligent maternity care leaves a woman with on-going and disabling bowel symptoms, it may be appropriate to claim compensation for the impact, such as a loss of earnings or the costs of treatment.
Examples of how negligent maternity care can lead to this terrible situation could include the following:
- A failure to examine a new mother, including a digital rectal examination to check the condition of the anal sphincter
- A failure to identify that an injury of this severity has occurred
- A misdiagnosis of an injury
- A failure of repair
An undiagnosed 3rd or 4th degree tear will not be repaired and the new mother will suffer the consequences.
Speak to a legal specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience of 3rd and 4th degree tear compensation claims. Consequently, we understand very well how distressing these injuries can be and how hard it can be to discuss the symptoms.
Contact us today to talk to a friendly solicitor, free of charge, about your situation and the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
We can offer No Win No Fee medical negligence funding which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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