Challenging Birth Tear Medical Negligence
If you are struggling with significant bowel symptoms following the birth of your baby, you may have an unrepaired birth tear. Here's how to investigate the quality if your maternity care and, if appropriate, make a claim for compensation.
Severe birth tear negligence
A minority of women giving birth through the vagina will suffer a severe perineal tear, also known as 3rd or 4th degree tears. It is essential that these serious injuries are identified shortly after the birth and repaired in order to prevent the new mother from developing appalling bowel problems.
Because these injuries are a known risk of vaginal childbirth, medical professionals should ensure that every care is paid to the perineal health of women who have given birth this way.
First-time mothers, women of Asian heritage and women who have required an instrumental delivery, such as forceps, are at a heightened risk.
If medical professionals attending the birth fail to carry out a digital rectal examination or fail to diagnose a 3rd or 4th degree tear accurately, leaving the new mother with debilitating symptoms, it may be possible to make a claim.
The impact of birth tear symptoms
A woman whose 3rd or 4th degree tear has not been repaired is likely to experience symptoms such as urgency and incontinence of wind and faeces.
She may even need a stoma to be fitted if the damage to her bowel is of sufficient severity as to compromise bowel function.
Unfortunately, the broader impact can affect a woman's self-confidence, her willingness to leave her home, her ability to engage in a range of activities and her capacity to work.
The financial impact as well as the practical and emotional impact can be overwhelming.
Investigating your care
The first step is to speak with a specialist solicitor. They will be able to obtain copies of your medical records and engage the best medical experts to analyse the quality of your care. If it appears that you have suffered from negligent care, they will assess the extent of its impact on you and your quality of life.
This is a time-consuming process and you will also be required to provide a witness statement so make sure you contact a solicitor as soon as possible in order to get the ball rolling.
Claims need to be issued within three years of the date of the alleged negligence so don't delay.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience of severe birth tear claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about 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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