Compensating Negligent Care of Perineal Tear Damage
Perineal tear damage can be devastating. If poor medical care has left you struggling with symptoms, talk to Glynns about the possibility of making a claim.
Maternal injuries in vaginal childbirth
Damage to the perineum during vaginal childbirth is not uncommon. Even severe damage affecting the anal sphincter muscles is thought to affect around 5% of new mothers. Appropriate and effective care by medical professionals is crucial if the new mother is to avoid a lifetime of bowel dysfunction in the form of wind and faecal incontinence.
Perineal tears vary in their extent and in the nature of the symptoms they can cause and accurate medical diagnosis and repair is essential.
The categories of perineal tears is as follows:
- a 1st degree tear which damages the skin around the vagina and perineum
- a 2nd degree tear which also damages the muscle between the vagina and anus
- a 3a tear which additionally damages up to 50% of the external anal sphincter
- a 3b tear which damages more than 50% of the anal sphincter
- a 3c tear which also damages the internal anal sphincter muscle
- a 4th degree tear which causes all the damage of the other types of tear plus causes injury to the lining of the anal canal and risks the woman developing a fistula between the rectum and the vagina
Third and fourth degree tears are regarded as particularly severe injuries as they impact on a woman's ability to control bowel movement. Consequently, they require prompt and accurate diagnosis followed by a full, competent and effective repair.
A failure of either diagnosis or repair may result in the new mother suffering distressing and debilitating bowel dysfunction. In some instances, the woman may not realise that her appalling symptoms are not normal and that she should have undergone a thorough examination following the birth of her baby and that her injuries should have received medical attention.
Claiming compensation
If a woman suffers on-going and debilitating symptoms, affecting her quality of life and earning capacity as a result of substandard medical care, she would be entitled by law to make a claim for compensation.
A successful compensation claim would take account of any financial losses such as restricted employment options and income due to her symptoms.
Talk to a legal specialist
Compensation claims for medical negligence are extremely complex and require the services of a specialist lawyer.
If you or a loved one are struggling with the appalling impact of negligent maternity care, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence with considerable expertise in perineal tear compensation claims. One of our team of solicitors will be happy to talk to you, 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.
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
