When to Make a Claim for an OASI
If you or a loved one have suffered an OASI during vaginal childbirth, you may be wondering when it is possible to make a claim for compensation.
When to make a claim
The short answer is that it is possible to make a claim for an OASI when medical professionals have failed to provide effective care, leaving the new mother to suffer on-going bowel problems and associated difficulties.
More complicated issues relate to the question of when medical professionals might be regarded as negligent and what can a compensation claim include?
OASI and medical negligence
Medical professionals should be aware that a significant minority of women suffer anal sphincter injuries during vaginal childbirth and that careful and effective care is crucial to a good long-term outcome.
They may be regarded as having provided only substandard care in the following circumstances:
- If the new mother does not undergo a thorough examination, including a digital rectal examination, following the birth of her baby
- If damage to the anal sphincter has occurred but a diagnosis is not made
- If a diagnosis is made but it is incorrect, leading to only a partial repair
- If a repair is not carried out or if a repair is inappropriate, ineffective or incomplete
The impact of bowel incontinence
Loss of control over both wind and faeces can be utterly devastating, affecting not only a woman's confidence but also her ability to work, socialise, support her baby and even to leave her home.
Many women find that their previous form of employment is no longer accessible due to their need for access to a toilet or due to their psychological concerns and fear of bowel accidents.
This situation can lead to significant financial losses if a woman is restricted in the type of work or duration of work she is able to manage.
If the financial losses are considered to be the result, fully or partly, of negligent medical care, they could be incorporated into a claim for compensation.
Speak to a legal specialist
If you think you may have a claim, contact Glynns Solicitors, specialists in medical negligence law. One of our team of experienced solicitors will be very happy to talk to you, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
Don't delay! Compensation claims are associated with a deadline of three years from the date of the alleged negligence and your solicitor will need plenty of time in advance of this deadline to investigate the quality of your care.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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