Compensation for Undiagnosed Anal Sphincter Injury
Competent and accurate diagnosis of an anal sphincter injury during childbirth is essential to the long-term well-being of the new mother. A failure to carry out an examination or a failure to identify any damage correctly may justify a claim for compensation.
Severe childbirth tears
Tragically, these appalling injuries often affect first-time mothers and their experience of raising their new baby can be negatively influenced by their shocking bowel symptoms.
Childbirth anal sphincter injuries occur as the baby is being born. The pressure on the vagina and the perineum can cause a tear to occur which, in some unfortunate cases, can extend as far as the anus.
Such appalling injuries are more likely to occur to certain categories of women including first-time mothers, women who require an instrumental delivery, women of Asian origin and women who are giving birth to a large baby.
The damage to the anus may affect only the external sphincter muscles or it may extend inside the anus, further damaging the internal sphincter and the internal lining of the anal canal.
Effects of severe birth tears
The impact of such an injury when it is not promptly and effectively repaired can be shocking and life-changing.
A woman may find that she has very little time to reach a toilet having recognised the need to defecate. Even worse, she may suffer episodes of bowel incontinence. This may be in the form or either wind incontinence or faecal incontinence or both.
The emotional impact of this on a young woman can be devastating. Socialising can, for many, seem an impossibility due to the risk of embarrassing leakage or incontinence. Personal relationships can suffer and returning to work can seem an insuperable hurdle. The financial implications can be considerable when a woman is either unable to work or restricted in what is manageable.
Consequently, these injuries need to be repaired as promptly as possible in order to give the new mother the best chance of making a full recovery. The severity of the long-term symptoms should ensure that the utmost care is taken when assessing the perineum and anus following childbirth.
However, this is often not the case and a repair does not occur for the simple reason that the injury is not diagnosed.
Medical negligence
Where medical professionals fail to follow guidelines recommending the meticulous assessment of the perineum after vaginal childbirth, they may be considered to have acted negligently.
If a new mother suffers long-term symptoms of an anal sphincter injury or severe tear as a result, it might be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact Glynns today to talk to a medical negligence solicitor with expertise in this field. We have supported numerous women in making highly-successful compensation claims for negligence in relation to severe birth tears and will be very happy to advise you.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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