Anal Birth Injury and Negligent Medical Care
An anal birth injury during childbirth can cause life-changing symptoms. When is medical care negligent and when is it appropriate to claim compensation?
Anal injuries in childbirth
If you give birth to your baby through the vagina, there is a risk that you will suffer a perineal tear. For a minority of women, such as those undergoing an instrumental delivery, there is an additional risk that the tear will be severe.
Third and fourth degree tears extend beyond the perineum and cause damage to the muscles around the anus.
Depending on their extent, third degree tears damage the external and internal muscles, whereas fourth degree tears also damage the lining of the anal canal.
The symptoms associated with these serious injuries can be debilitating, including loss of control of the passing of wind and faeces.
Consequently, timely and competent medical care of any injury is absolutely crucial to a functioning and healthy outcome for the new mother.
Negligent medical care
Medical professionals attendant at a vaginal delivery may be regarded as negligent if they fail to provide adequate care of a third or fourth degree tear.
Negligence which could result in the new mother suffering long-term symptoms could include the following:
- A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination following the birth of the baby
- A failure to identify that the anal sphincter has been damaged
- A misdiagnosis of damage to the anal sphincter
- A failure to carry out an effective repair
Claiming compensation
If a woman suffers long-term symptoms and financial losses because a failing of medical care has left her struggling with bowel problems, she may be legally entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Severe bowel problems can affect a person's ability to work in a variety of ways. Some types of employment may no longer be appropriate or possible. The need for access to a toilet may restrict the location where a woman can work. She may only be able to manage restricted hours due to the difficulties involved in managing her bowel problems.
A successful compensation claim would address the associated financial losses.
Speak to a legal specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with many years' experience in birth tear claims and an understanding of the distress and difficulties which these injuries can cause.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim if you are struggling with the consequences of negligent maternity care.
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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