Third Degree Tear Diagnosis Compensation
What is a third degree tear and why might it be appropriate to claim compensation for negligent medical diagnosis?
Third degree tears
Third degree tears are a risk of vaginal childbirth, affecting around 5% of women who choose to give birth this way. They are often referred to as severe perineal tears as they cause more significant damage than the more common 1st and 2nd degree tears. It is the nature of the damage caused and the associated symptoms that mean that prompt and accurate diagnosis and repair are crucial.
Third degree tears cause damage to the anal sphincter, the muscles around the anus which control and prevent the passing of wind and faeces. If these muscles are damaged during childbirth, the new mother will inevitably suffer some degree of bowel dysfunction. This may be urgency when needing to go to the toilet or in some instances, it causes incontinence of wind and faeces.
Such appalling symptoms would cause distress to anyone but for a new mother trying to nurture and bring up her new-born baby, it is both highly-distressing and significantly debilitating, often resulting in loss of self-confidence and social isolation.
Negligence
Competent medical management is obviously vital to a good outcome. However, occasionally, the quality of maternity care is substandard and the new mother returns home without her injury having been diagnosed. The problem with this situation is that if surgery to repair the injury is delayed, there is less chance of success.
Examples of negligent medical care in relation to this distressing injury include the following:
- A failure to carry out a thorough examination, including a digital rectal examination, following the birth of the baby
- A failure to identify an injury
- A misdiagnosis or anal sphincter injury
- A failure of repair, allowing the new mother to develop life-changing symptoms
Compensation claims
If an individual suffers from negligent or substandard medical care, they are legally entitled to make a claim for compensation. Where the impact of the negligence has caused the patient to suffer significant financial losses such as a reduced income, those losses would be incorporated into a successful claim.
If you think that you may have been the victim of medical negligence, contact a specialist solicitor for advice.
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced lawyers. Contact us today to speak with a solicitor, free of charge, about the suitability 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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