Missed 4th Degree Tear Compensation Claims
A missed 4th degree tear following vaginal childbirth can blight a woman's life. If it is due to negligent maternity care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
4th degree tears
A 4th degree tear is the most severe form of maternal birth injury or perineal tear. Whereas the majority of perineal tears only cause damage to the perineum between the vagina and the anus, a 4th degree tear continues through the external anal muscle and into the internal anal muscle. It additionally causes damage to the lining of the anal canal.
In essence, the outcome is a loss of bowel function.
Without effective maternity and obstetric care, a woman may find herself experiencing a range of shocking symptoms including the following:
- Perineal infections and discomfort
- Extreme urgency when needing the toilet
- Inability to control wind and the passing of faeces
- If a fistula develops between the anus and the vagina as a result of a 4th degree tear, a woman may also find that she is experiencing leakage of wind and faecal matter from her vagina.
The impact can be highly distressing, embarrassing and life-changing, demanding scrupulous hygiene and easy access to toilet facilities at all times. Women often report that it affects their ability to support and bring up their baby and damages their self-confidence.
It can also affect a woman's earning capacity if she is unable to pursue a specific career due to her symptoms or has become restricted in the hours she is now able to work, causing a reduction in income.
Claiming compensation
If this appalling outcome is due to negligent maternity care, it may be possible to make a claim for compensation.
Negligent maternity care would include occurrences such as a misdiagnosis or an injury, a failure to recognise injury or an ineffective repair, leaving the woman to suffer on-going symptoms.
If a woman has experienced financial losses as a result of substandard maternity care, such as a reduced income, these losses would be incorporated into a successful claim.
Specialist legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicate medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced lawyers.
If you or a loved one are struggling with the impact of this shocking injury due to negligence medical care, contact us to speak with a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of claiming compensation.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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