Anal Birth Trauma and When to Claim Compensation for Negligent Maternity Care
Speak to a legal specialist for free advice if you are struggling with the appalling incontinence problems associated with an unrepaired birth tear.
Anal birth trauma in vaginal childbirth
It may seem surprising that vaginal childbirth can leave a woman incontinent of wind and faeces but such is the distressing situation for a minority of women who suffer a severe birth tear during the delivery of their baby.
The vast majority of new mothers do not suffer this fate but, for around 5%, a 3rd or 4th degree tear is an outcome of their baby's birth.
Women who are giving birth for the first time or who require an instrumental delivery, such as with forceps, are at a particular risk of this occurrence.
It may not always be possible to prevent these injuries but this is a known risk with a clear route to resolving symptoms and the medical professionals involved with the birth should ensure that, when a woman has experienced such an injury, her diagnosis and repair are swiftly achieved.
Competent care and negligence
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that all women who have given birth through the vagina should undergo a digital rectal examination specifically to check for any anal trauma.
If this does not take place, any damage will not be identified.
If an examination is carried out and damage is identified, it is essential that the diagnosis is accurate. Anal trauma in childbirth can cause varying degrees of damage and an accurate diagnosis is required to ensure a full repair.
A misdiagnosis can leave a woman suffering disabling symptoms which should have been prevented with competent care.
When to claim compensation
It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation when it is clear that negligent maternity care has left a new mother with disabling symptoms which would not have been the case with a competent level of care.
In order to establish if a claim can be made, contact a medical negligence legal specialist who will engage the best medical experts to scrutinise your medical records for signs of the substandard care which has left you suffering.
A successful claim will address the consequences of the negligent care. For example, if the new mother is now struggling to work due to her symptoms and is suffering a significant loss of earnings, this would be included in her claim.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive expertise and experience in childbirth anal trauma claims. We fully understand the difficulty which you may feel in discussing the symptoms which you are experiencing and their impact on your life.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, to discuss the possibility of making a claim.
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.
Make An Enquiry
Why Choose Us
- Specialist medical negligence solicitors
- Free initial enquiries
- No win, no fee available
Reviews
Our Expertise
Helping Clients Across England & Wales
