Severe Perineal Tears and Compensation Claims
Severe perineal tears during vaginal childbirth are significant, shocking and potentially life-changing injuries. If medical negligence fails to provide a good standard of care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Severe perineal tears
A severe perineal tear, otherwise referred to as a 3rd or 4th degree tear, or obstetric anal sphincter injury, is one which causes a significant injury to a new mother, requiring surgical attention. It is a tear which originates at the vagina during childbirth and which cuts through the skin and muscle of the perineum, reaching the muscles around the anus. Third degree tears cause damage to anal muscles to a lesser or greater degree, and fourth degree tears additionally cause damage to the internal lining of the anal canal. They cause problems with bowel function and have the capacity to leave a woman incontinent of both wind and faeces.
Skilled and accurate medical care is essential to a good outcome. Poor-quality medical care risks leaving the woman with an unrepaired injury which may cause her significant bowel problems for the rest of her life.
Negligence and compensation
Where this occurs, a claim for compensation can be a helpful way forward. If a woman has suffered significant financial problems as a result of the poor-quality medical care, a successful claim can provide some recompense.
A compensation claim may only be appropriate where there is clear evidence of poor-quality care, such as a misdiagnosis, and the woman has suffered on-going and debilitating symptoms as a result.
- A failure to carry out a thorough perineal and anal examination following a vaginal birth may be regarded as negligent
- A misdiagnosis of perineal injury may be regarded as negligent
- A poor-quality repair may be regarded as negligent
Where bowel problems and associated problems are a result of one of these forms of negligence, it may be appropriate to make a claim.
Legal advice
Compensation claims for medical negligence are complex and require the support of specialist solicitors and medical experts.
Glynns Solicitors is a niche medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience of a wide-range of medical issues including claims for negligence care of third and fourth degree tears.
If you are struggling with the long-term impact of poor-quality medical care following the birth of your baby, contact us to talk to a solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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