Birth Injury Case Studies

Below you will find two of our most recent cases, dealing with negligent stitching and an unneccessary episiotomy.

Negligent Stitching

Our client gave birth to her child at a hospital in the North of the country. The midwifery notes indicate that during the course of the labour she sustained a small left labial tear, the perineum was intact but she had some deep lacerations just behind the fourchette. The labour records stated that she had a primary tear and small labial tear which were sutured in layers with vicryl rapide.

A few weeks later our client realised that there was a problem with her vaginal area, in particular that there no longer seemed to be any entry. She saw her GP who wrote a referral letter to the hospital asking for a review of our client 'who has had her labia sutured together'.

Our client was seen at the hospital where it was noted that both labia minora appeared to be fused in the centre and the doctor was not able to pass the finger through the vagina. Her GP wrote a referral to another hospital stating that our client had suffered 'a small tear but unfortunately has been sutured inappropriately'.

Our client was seen at the second hospital by a locum consultant, who confirmed that both her labia minora were completely fused with only a 2cm opening just below the clitoris. Subsequently the locum consultant carried out a division of our client’s labia using diathermy.

The NHS litigation authority settled the case for £5,000 without an admission of liability.

Unnecessary Episiotomy

Our client claimed damages arising out of delivery of her first child at a London Hospital when following an unnecessary episiotomy, which was performed in a manner that was also substandard in the UK, our client suffered a third degree tear leading to a possible recto-vaginal fistula. The midwife only carried out a partial repair to our client's tear which was not properly diagnosed or repaired and which should have been repaired by surgeons in the operating theatre.

Our client was left with a deficient anterior half of her anal sphincter and loss of much of the perineal body. Liability was denied by the hospital trust but shortly after the issue of Court proceedings an offer was made to settle her claim and our client received £67,000.

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If we can help you to make a claim for compensation you will benefit from the following funding options:

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Please call us on 0800 234 3300 or complete our Online Enquiry Form.