OASI Negligence Compensation Claims
Negligent medical care of an anal sphincter injury during childbirth can lead to permanent disabling symptoms. A claim for compensation may be a helpful way forward.
Obstetric anal sphincter injuries
An OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injury) is a serious injury capable of causing life-changing disability. It requires prompt, accurate and skilled care if the new mother is to recover and maintain control of her bowels.
Occasionally, such care is not provided, and the woman affected may experience the following symptoms for the rest of her life:
- Inability to prevent the passing of wind
- Inability to prevent the passing of faeces
- Perineal infections
- Discomfort and pain
In some circumstances, the woman may suffer leakage of wind or faeces from the vagina and may even need to be fitted with a stoma bag to provide bowel function.
Appropriate medical care
Whilst any woman giving birth through the vagina can suffer a severe anal tear, it is more likely to occur to women who are giving birth for the first time or who have had an instrumental birth. A failure to recognise this possibility may mean that the woman's injury is missed.
All women who have given birth through the vagina should undergo a thorough examination shortly after the birth. This should include a digital rectal examination to assess the condition of the anal sphincter. If this does not occur, it may be considered that the woman has received substandard care.
If any sign of injury is observed, it is essential that it is accurately diagnosed. There are several degrees of birth tear and a misdiagnosis can lead to a failure to repair. Any injury should be precisely and accurately recorded as either a 1st, 2nd, 3a, 3b, 3c or 4th degree tear.
Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, any woman who has suffered a 3rd or 4th degree tear (an OASI), should be repaired by a surgeon in an operating theatre, not by a midwife in the maternity ward.
A failure in the quality or the extent of the repair may also be regarded as substandard care.
Claiming compensation
If you or a loved one are struggling with the appalling long-term impact of an undiagnosed or poorly-repaired OASI, contact Glynns Solicitors. We are specialists in medical negligence compensation with extensive experience of supporting women who have suffered poor medical care of these terrible injuries.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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