Anal Muscle Tear Missed in Maternity Negligence
If a tear to the anal muscle during vaginal childbirth is missed by maternity professionals, the new mother may suffer shocking bowel problems and may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
What is an anal muscle tear?
During vaginal childbirth, the pressure put on the vagina and perineum by the delivery of the baby can cause a tear to start. For most women, this only causes a small injury affecting the skin and sometimes the muscle of the perineum between the vagina and the anus.
For a few women, unfortunately, the tear extends further and affects the anal muscles. These are the muscles around the anus which allow a woman to control the passing of wind and faeces.
If these muscles are damaged, the woman's control is reduced. The extent of the loss of control depends on the extent and severity of the tear. Some tears (3a and 3b tears) affect the external anal sphincter but 3c and 4th degree tears additionally affect the internal muscle and the lining of the anal canal respectively.
Clearly, these are highly undesirable injuries and maternity professionals should ensure that, if such an injury occurs, it is diagnosed and repaired shortly after the birth of the baby.
Negligent care and on-going bowel symptoms
Occasionally, a severe tear is missed. It may be that an examination is not carried out or the tear is not identified or it is misdiagnosed.
If this occurs then a repair may not be carried out at all or it may only be partial leaving the new mother with distressing and life-changing symptoms.
If the tear is missed, there will be no repair.
This may leave the new mother with loss of control of the passing of wind and faeces.
Claiming compensation
The impact of such symptoms can utterly undermine a woman's confidence, restrict the activities which she is able to do and limit the way in which she can work. She may require specialist treatment or equipment in order to manage her debilitating symptoms.
The associated financial losses and costs can be considerable and a successful compensation claim can address these losses.
Speak to a specialist solicitor
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with many years' experience of severe birth tear claims. We understand fully the distress which these injuries can cause and the challenges which many women feel in talking about them.
If you are struggling with the shocking symptoms due to negligent maternity care, contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
We can offer No Win No Fee medical negligence funding which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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