Bowel Incontinence and 4th Degree Tear Claims
Bowel incontinence can cause severe physical and emotional difficulties. If you or a loved one are struggling with this debilitating and distressing scenario due to poor-quality maternity care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
How does a birth tear cause incontinence?
For a minority of extremely unfortunate women, giving birth through the vagina can cause a severe injury resulting in incontinence of both wind and faeces. The pressure on the vagina and perineum during the baby's delivery can tear the skin and muscle. For most women this will only cause a fairly small 1st or 2nd degree tear. Occasionally, however, the tear will continue across the perineum and into the anal sphincter, the muscles which control the bowel. A 4th degree tear will additionally damage the lining of the anal canal.
Such injuries can cause a lifetime of incontinence unless they are diagnosed and repaired as promptly as possible after the birth of the baby.
A failure by medical professionals to diagnose and repair such a severe injury can devastate a woman's life and can justify a claim for compensation.
Why make a claim for compensation?
There can be many very good reasons for making a claim for compensation. For many patients, one of the most important considerations is the need for recognition that their medical care was negligent and their quality of life has suffered as a result. This can help to address the emotional damage resulting from the impact of the negligence.
A major factor is, of course, to provide recompense for the financial losses that the patient has suffered. For a woman whose bowel incontinence means that she is no longer able to work, or is significantly restricted in her working capacity, the financial impact can be dramatic. For some women, the need for additional support around the home or in bringing up their children can even cause additional costs. A successful claim will address this financial impact of the medical negligence.
It is also to be hoped that the bringing of a compensation claim for a significant failure in medical care will draw the attention of the medical professionals involved to short-comings in their service and will prompt a review of services and guidelines with a view to ensuring that the same negligent care does not affect women in the future.
Speak to a legal specialist
If you think you may have been the victim of medical negligence and are struggling with the impact of on-going symptoms, contact Glynns Solicitors today. We are a specialist medical negligence legal practice with many years' expertise in birth tear claims and one of our solicitors will be very happy to talk to you.
Contact us today to talk to a specialist solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
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
