Anal Sphincter Negligence in Maternity Care & Claiming Compensation
If you have been the victim of negligent anal sphincter care during vaginal childbirth, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
What is the impact of negligent anal sphincter care?
The quality of care of a woman's anal sphincter during childbirth is crucial to her long-term bowel continence.
If a woman suffers a severe perineal tear during childbirth, she may experience permanent bowel problems if she does not receive competent and prompt medical care.
Severe tears, also described as 3rd or 4th degree tears, cause damage to the anal muscles. These muscles work to control and prevent the passing of wind and faeces. If they are damaged, that function can be lost, leaving a woman to suffer urgency, incontinence of wind and faeces, infections of the perineum and, at worst, the need for a stoma to provide bowel function.
What constitutes negligent care?
A variety of failings in medical care can leave a woman with poor anal control and on-going symptoms:
- A failure to carry out a thorough perineal examination following the baby's birth, including a digital rectal examination, meaning that any anal sphincter damage remains undiagnosed
- A misdiagnosis of damage such as classifying a 3rd degree tear as a 2nd degree tear or diagnosing a 3c tear as a 3a tear, meaning that part of the injury will remain unrepaired
- Failing to repair the full extent of the injury
- A substandard repair, allowing symptoms to continue
Claiming compensation
A successful compensation claim can provide recompense, not only for your pain and suffering, but also for any financial losses caused by the negligent care.
For example, if negligent care has left you with symptoms of wind and faecal incontinence, meaning that you are now limited in the type of work you can undertake and causing a reduction in income, these financial losses would be taken into account.
If you believe you or a loved one may have been the victim of negligent care and are suffering the physical, psychological and financial effects, the first step is to contact a specialist solicitor.
Claims for compensation for medical negligence are extremely complex and require the expertise of a lawyer experienced in this niche field of law.
Speak to a specialist free of charge
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of specialist lawyers. Contact us today to talk to a solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation if you have suffered negligent maternity care.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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