Coping With The Consequences of Severe Perineal Tear Negligence
Where appropriate, a claim for compensation for the appalling consequences of a 3rd or 4th degree tear, can help a new mother to come to terms with the difficulties which she now faces.
The consequences of a severe perineal tear
The permanent impact of a severe perineal tear, i.e. a 3rd or 4th degree tear, can be utterly life-changing and extremely difficult to manage, practically, emotionally and psychologically.
3rd and 4th degree tears, which are a risk of vaginal childbirth, damage the anal sphincter, which is the external and internal muscles which control the passing of wind and faeces. These severe injuries require prompt and accurate diagnosis followed by a skilled repair by an experience surgeon.
A failure in either diagnosis or repair can leave the new mother facing a lifetime of appalling and highly-distressing symptoms including the following:
- Incontinence of wind
- Incontinence of faeces or extreme urgency when needing the toilet
- Leakage from the vagina of both wind and faeces if a fistula has developed
- The need for a stoma if bowel function has been compromised
- Perineal infections
Coming to terms with such shocking symptoms can be extremely challenging and finding a way to manage her unexpected difficulties, alongside ringing up her baby, can demand all a woman's emotional and physical resources.
Making a claim for compensation
Where negligent medical care has contributed to such a terrible and permanent outcome, a successful compensation claim can help to address the financial consequences. This could include a loss of income if the new mother is now restricted in the type of work or hours of work she is able to manage because of the impact of her bowel symptoms. It could also include the costs of equipment, hygiene products or treatment which have been necessitated by the impact of the negligent care.
It is often clear that a successful compensation claim can also help to address the psychological impact struggling with distressing bowel symptoms by giving the new mother a sense that justice has been done.
Negligent maternity care which might contribute to a failure in diagnosis or repair could include a failure of examination, a failure to recognise an injury, a misdiagnosis of a 3rd or 4th degree tear or an inadequate repair of the injury.
Speak to a legal specialist
Here at Glynns Solicitors we regularly speak with the victims of negligent perineal care during childbirth and can offer extensive expertise in high-value maternity claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim if you are struggling with the consequences of a 3rd or 4th degree tear.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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