Maternity Incontinence and Financial Losses: Claiming Compensation
The shocking truth is that vaginal childbirth can tear the muscles which control bowel movements and leave a woman with incontinence of both wind and faeces. If substandard medical care has contributed to such an appalling outcome, causing financial losses, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
Maternity negligence and bowel incontinence
Although the majority of women who experience a severe birth tear receive a prompt and effective repair, far too many women either do not receive a thorough examination following the birth of their baby or their injury is misdiagnosed leading to only a partial repair.
Medical negligence in relation to the woman's perineum can occur in a variety of ways, all possibly leading to the same distressing and debilitating outcome: anal incontinence.
- Failure to carry out an episiotomy prior to an instrumental delivery
- Use of a midline episiotomy rather than a medio-lateral episiotomy when necessary
- Failure to carry out a thorough post-natal examination including a digital rectal examination
- Failure to diagnose perineal and anal injuries
- Misdiagnosis of perineal or anal injuries
- Substandard anal injury repair, allowing the new mother to experience continuing symptoms
The possible financial impact of bowel incontinence
As well as the emotional distress and the likely impact on a woman's general well-being, bowel incontinence can sometimes also cause significant financial losses.
If a woman is unable to control her bowel movements, she may find that it is difficult to work within some types of employment. This could include hospitality, education, healthcare, policing and retail amongst others.
Consequently, a woman may be forced to work in a poorer paid job or only manage restricted hours, also causing a reduced income.
If these financial losses are due to substandard maternity care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
How to claim compensation
If you believe that you have been the victim of medical negligence and want to consider making a claim for compensation, you should start by speaking to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims.
This area of the law is extremely complicated and the best advice and support will be provided by someone with experience in medical negligence, ideally specifically in maternal birth tear or severe perineal tear claims.
Here at Glynns Solicitors, all our lawyers are experts in medical negligence compensation. We have supported numerous women in making claims for the effects of negligent maternity care and one of our specialist solicitors would be very 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.
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