Anal Injury and Bowel Problems Due to Birth Tear Negligence
Contact Glynns Solicitors if you think that your debilitating bowel problems may be due to maternity negligence in relation to a birth tear.
The risk of an anal injury in childbirth
Suffering an anal injury during vaginal childbirth is a shocking and largely unanticipated outcome. Unfortunately, this is a risk, particularly for women who are giving birth for the first time, are of Asian extraction or who require an instrumental delivery.
It is important to stress that this is a risk of which maternity professionals are well aware and, if guidelines are followed, a woman who has suffered one of the appalling injuries should be receive timely and effective medical care to ensure that her injury is repaired and her symptoms are short-term.
Where guidelines are not followed, however, or a mistake in diagnosis is made, the new mother can face a lifetime of disability and distress.
Symptoms of an anal injury
3rd and 4th degree tears which affect the anal muscles can cause a range of debilit6ating symptoms including the following:
- Leakage or incontinence of wind and faeces
- Infections
- Leakage form the vagina if a fistula develops between the anus and the vagina as a result of a 4th degree tear
- the need for a stoma to be fitted to replace bowel function
Not surprisingly, such symptoms can be utterly life-changing, undermining a woman's self-confidence, her ability to work, her willingness to leave her home and her ability to support her baby.
Negligence and compensation
If this shocking outcome is found to have been due to negligence on the part of maternity professionals, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation which would address the financial impact such as loss of income and the costs of any necessary specialist equipment or treatment which help the woman to deal with her symptoms.
Examples of negligent medical care which could produce such a disabling situation could include the following:
- a failure to carry out a thorough assessment of the new mother following the birth of her baby, including a digital rectal examination to check for damage to the anal sphincter
- a failure to recognise that damage has occurred to the anal muscles
- a misdiagnosis of damage such as identifying a 3c tear as a 3a tear
- a failure to achieve a comprehensive and effective repair
Free legal advice
If you think that you have suffered from negligent maternity care, contact Glynns Solicitors, the specialists in medical negligence law.
We can offer a wealth of expertise and experience in maternity negligence claims and one of our friendly solicitors will be very happy to talk to you free of charge.
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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