Anal Sphincter Childbirth Injuries and Compensation for Negligent Care
Anal sphincter injuries during vaginal childbirth require very thorough and careful medical care. Negligent care and on-going bowel symptoms may justify a claim for compensation.
What is an anal sphincter injury?
The anal sphincter is the muscles, both external and internal, which work in combination to control the passing of wind and faeces. When necessary they prevent the passing of wind and faeces or, when appropriate, they facilitate it.
Occasionally, for about one in twenty women undergoing vaginal childbirth, a birth tear is of such severity that it extends beyond the perineum and damages the anal sphincter muscles.
These injuries of considerable significance because they cause far more serious damage and symptoms than childbirth injuries which are restricted to the vagina and perineum. Moreover, whereas 1st and 2nd degree tears can be easily repaired on the maternity ward, 3rd and 4th degree tears (anal sphincter injuries) require the attention and skills of an experienced surgeon in an operating theatre.
Negligent care
Medical professionals who attended the birth may be regarded as having been negligent if they fail to examine the new mother following the birth, fail to diagnose her injuries accurately or fail to carry out an effective repair of an anal sphincter injury.
If the woman continues to suffer debilitating symptoms as a consequence of negligent care, she may be able to make a claim for compensation.
The trauma of on-going bowel symptoms
It is shocking that a severe birth tear which is not effectively repaired can leave a woman with incontinence of both wind and faeces and, in some cases, may necessitate the fitting of a stoma to provide bowel function.
The consequences of such distressing and debilitating symptoms can cause significant psychological problems as well as restricting the type of work which a woman is able to do. She may struggle to leave her home due to fear of bowel accidents, resulting in social isolation, deteriorating mental health and loss of income.
Making a claim for compensation
If you think that you or a loved one are struggling with the impact of severe bowel problems due to negligent maternity care, your first step should be to speak with a legal expert who specialises in this niche field of law. They will be able to obtain your medical records and investigate the quality of your medical care.
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience of birth tear compensation claims. Contact us today to speak with a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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