Obstetric Anal Negligence and When to Claim Compensation
Talk to a medical negligence solicitor if you are suffering bowel problems following the birth of your baby. You may be entitled to claim compensation for negligent care.
Care of the mother in vaginal childbirth
Medical professionals present at the vaginal birth of a baby have a duty of care to the new mother to ensure her physical well-being is taken into account.
The integrity of the perineum and anal sphincter is a key part of this.
A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination of the new mother following the vaginal birth of her baby can leave her with an undiagnosed severe birth tear which can blight her life permanently.
Many women suffer a 1st or 2nd degree tear around the vagina and perineum during the birth of their baby. This is diagnosed through an examination of the perineum. A small minority of women, however, suffer a more extensive tear which additionally damages the muscles around their anus and can compromise the new mother's bowel function.
For a chance of diagnosis and repair, a digital rectal examination is necessary.
Without a diagnosis, a repair will not take place, leaving the new mother with issues of incontinence.
Failings in maternity care of the new mother
Maternity failings which might be regarded as negligent and which might justify a claim for compensation could include the following:
- A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination following the birth of the baby to check for damage to the anal muscles
- A failure to recognise that a severe tear has occurred to the anal muscles
- A misdiagnosis of a severe tear, such as identifying a 3c tear as a 3a tear
- An ineffective or incomplete repair of a 3rd or 4th degree tear, leaving the new mother to suffer long-term bowel problems
If any of the above have left you struggling with bowel symptoms such as incontinence of wind and faeces, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation which would address the consequences, such as a loss of income if you are struggling to work, or the costs of equipment or specialist treatment to manage your symptoms.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a specialist medical negligence legal practice with long-standing experience in maternal birth tear compensation claims.
Contact us today to talk to an experienced 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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