Severe Birth Tears and Medical Negligence Compensation
If you are continuing to suffer significant urgency, leakage or incontinence of wind and faeces some time after the birth of your baby, you may have an undiagnosed, misdiagnosed or unrepaired severe birth tear.
If this is the case, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation for the effects of this negligent medical care.
What is a severe birth tear?
Many women suffer a tear to the skin and muscle around the vagina and perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, during childbirth. For the vast majority of women, this is a fairly small injury which can be repaired, if necessary, on the maternity ward, and their symptoms should resolve quickly.
For a few unfortunate women, however, the tear will travel further across the perineum and affect the muscles which control bowel movements. These are 3rd and 4th degree tears, also known as OASI, which require a surgical repair in an operating theatre. Without diagnosis and repair, these appalling injuries can cause permanent bowel incontinence.
Medical care of the perineum during childbirth
If you have suffered a severe tear during the birth of your baby, you need the following response form the medical professionals who attended the birth:
- A thorough inspection of your perineum shortly after the birth, including a digital rectal examination for signs of a severe tear
- An accurate diagnosis of the injury according to the guidelines of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (i.e. a 1st, 2nd 3a, 3b, 3c or 4th degree tear)
- A full, competent and effective repair of your injury
Negligent medical care
A failure to provide any of the above is likely to leave a new mother with on-going and possibly permanent bowel symptoms which can affect the entire quality of her life.
A failure to provide the appropriate medical care is also likely to be regarded as negligent and may justify a claim for compensation.
As well as addressing issues of the woman's pain and suffering, a successful claim for compensation will address any financial losses, such as loss of income, in so far as they have been caused by the negligent care.
Specialist legal advice
If you think you might have a claim for medical negligence, your first step should be to contact a specialist lawyer.
They will be able to access your medical records and assess the quality of your care. They will have access to the best medical experts and will be able to assess the extent of the impact of the negligence and its likely future impact, ensuring that any claim takes account of the long-term effect of your negligent care.
If you have been the victim of negligent care, contact Glynns, specialists in medical negligence compensation, to talk to an experienced solicitor free of charge.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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