Obstetric Errors and Claiming Compensation for a Maternal Birth Injuryprogramme
An error of examination and diagnosis following a vaginal delivery can leave a new mother with permanent and devastating bowel problems.
Vaginal births and severe tears
The safe delivery of a baby can be both a joy and a relief. To know that the baby is healthy and fully-functioning is the primary focus of the maternity staff.
However, the health and well-being of the new mother is also of vital importance and if an injury has occurred during labour to the mother, it is essential that it is identified, diagnosed and resolved as soon as possible.
Perineal tears are a risk of childbirth. Severe tears, affecting the anal sphincter are a smaller risk but potentially life-changing if they are missed.
Severe birth tears are also referred to as 3rd and 4th degree tears and can affect the external and internal anal muscles as well as potentially causing damage to the internal anal canal.
If these appalling injuries are not identified by maternity staff after the vaginal delivery of a baby, the new mother can suffer the following depending on the extent of her injury:
- Urgency when needing to go to the toilet
- Loss of control of the passing of wind
- Loss of control of the passing of faeces
- Leakage through the vagina if a fistula develops
- Needing to have a stoma fitted if bowel function is compromised
Medical errors and claiming compensation
If an error by the maternity staff attending the birth leaves a new mother with these appalling injuries, the quality of her life can be severely reduced. Her ability to work may be significantly affected by her symptoms, her self-confidence can be utterly undermined, her ability to manage many everyday tasks can be affected by her need to manage her bowel symptoms, and her willing ness to even leave her home may be impacted by her fear of bowel accidents.
If a failing in obstetric care, such as a failure to carry out a post-natal examination of the mother, a misdiagnosis of an injury, a failure to identify that an injury has occurred, or a failure to carry out an effective repair, causes a woman to suffer a range of appalling physical and psychological symptoms, a successful claim can go a long way to restoring her quality of life.
Financial losses such as a loss of earnings, due to the difficulties of managing bowel symptoms, could be included in a claim as well as any additional costs caused by the negligence.
Free legal advice
Contact Glynns Solicitors to talk to an experience medical negligence solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
As specialists in this complex area of law, we can provide the best support in investigating the quality of your maternity care and supporting your claim for compensation.
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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