Negligent Treatment of a 3rd Degree Tear and When to Claim Compensation
Speak to Glynns Solicitors if you are struggling with the bowel symptoms of a 3rd degree tear following the vaginal birth of your baby.
What is a 3rd degree tear?
A 3rd degree tear is an injury to the perineum and anal sphincter which sometimes occurs during vaginal childbirth.
Most birth tears are limited to the region around the vagina but occasionally, under sufficient pressure, a tear can spread right across the perineum and into the muscles around the anus.
There are three classifications of 3rd degree tear, a 3a, 3b and 3c tear, which reflects the extent and severity of the tear.
A tear which extends beyond the anal muscles into the lining of the anal canal is described as a 4th degree tear.
What constitutes 'negligent treatment'?
3rd and 4th degree tears are a risk of vaginal childbirth. If they occur, it is essential that maternity professionals attending the birth provide prompt and adequate care to avoid permanent damage and disability.
Guidelines exist, provided by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, recommending the best approach to anal sphincter damage in childbirth.
Negligence, which might leave a new mother with an unrepaired injury, could include the following:
- A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination of a woman following vaginal childbirth
- A failure to identify that an injury has occurred to the anal sphincter
- A misdiagnosis of an injury to the anal sphincter, such as diagnosing a 3c tear as a less severe 3a tear
- A failure to provide an effective and full repair
When to make a claim for compensation
If you have suffered a 3rd or 4th degree tear which has not received adequate and effective treatment from your maternity professionals, and which has caused a significant impact to your physical well-being and quality of life, it may be possible to make a claim.
Speak to a medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible. They will be able to obtain copies of your medical records and analyse the quality of your maternity care.
Where appropriate, a successful claim will compensate the financial losses, such as a loss of income, which the negligence has caused.
Free legal advice
Glynns is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced solicitors and a wealth of expertise in severe birth tear claims.
Contact us today to talk to a friendly solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
We can offer No Win No Fee medical negligence funding which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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