Childbirth Tearing Negligence - Making a Claim
If medical professionals fail to provide an acceptable level of care for a childbirth tear, the long-term outcome for the new mother can be bleak. If symptoms are on-going, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Care of perineal tears
There are clear guidelines for the diagnosis and repair of tears which occur to a woman during vaginal childbirth. In the first instance, any injury to the vagina, perineum and anus should be carefully and accurately recorded following a thorough examination.
If the woman has suffered a 1st or 2nd degree tear, it is acceptable for the injury to be repaired by the midwife in the maternity unit. A third or fourth degree tear, however, is a different matter. An injury of this nature causes damage to the anal sphincter, the muscles which control the bowel, and needs to be repaired by an experienced surgeon in an operating theatre.
Perineal tears and medical negligence
Unfortunately, substandard medical care can affect this process in a number of ways:
- A failure to carry out a thorough examination may mean that only the damage to the perineum is noticed. Damage to the anal sphincter muscles or the anal canal may not be diagnosed if a digital, rectal examination is not carried out. The new mother will start to experience incontinence of wind and faeces if her anal sphincter has been injured but not repaired.
- An examination may be carried out but the findings may be misdiagnosed. What is, in fact, a severe tear requiring expert attention, may be misdiagnosed as a lesser tear such as a 2nd degree tear. As a result, the more significant and damaging part of the injury will not be repaired. Even though she has received a partial repair, the new mother will still suffer distressing bowel symptoms.
- The new mother may receive an accurate and full diagnosis but find that her repair is not of a good enough quality to prevent her developing bowel problems. If the incorrect techniques or materials are used in the course of the repair, or if the full extent of the injury is not repaired, she may still suffer debilitating symptoms.
Claiming compensation
If you are suffering the appalling bowel problems associated with severe birth tears due to a failure to diagnose or repair your injury correctly, you should consult a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
This will mean that your experience can be assessed with a view to deciding the suitability of making a compensation claim. A successful claim will take into account any financial losses you have suffered due to your poor care, such as loss of earnings.
Contact Glynns Solicitors, medical negligence specialists with expertise in severe perineal tear claims.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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