Perineal Birth Trauma and When to Claim Compensation
Injury to the perineum is not unusual during vaginal childbirth, with many new mothers suffering a 1st or 2nd degree tear.
3rd and 4th degree tears, however, are more rare, cause more debilitating symptoms and can sometimes be the focus of a successful compensation claim.
3rd and 4th degree tears
The problem with 3rd and 4th degree tears which can cause difficulties for both medical professionals as well as the new mother is that they extend beyond the perineum and cause damage to the anal muscles.
A digital rectal examination is necessary in order to be able to diagnose such an injury and a failure to do so will leave this serious injury unrepaired.
Damage to the muscles around the anus will cause the new mother to experience loss of bowel control in the form of urgency, leakage and incontinence. At its worst, it may even require her to have a stoma fitted.
As a result, she may struggle to work, thereby suffering a significant loss of income. She may also require on-going treatment or equipment to help her to manage her symptoms.
Negligent maternity care
Examples of negligent maternity care which may leave the new mother struggling with debilitating symptoms and which may justify a claim for compensation can include the following:
- A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination
- A failure to identify that an injury has occurred to the anal sphincter
- A misdiagnosis of a 3rd or 4th degree tear
- A failure to carry out an effective and comprehensive repair
To make a claim for compensation, it is necessary for there have to been an act of negligence by your medical professionals which has caused you to experience symptoms which would not have been the case with an acceptable standard of care.
If you suspect this to have been the case, contact a specialist solicitor who can obtain copies of your medical records and investigate the quality of your maternity care.
Free legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience in birth tear compensation claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim.
Suffering a perineal tear is not necessarily a sign of negligence. It is a known risk of vaginal childbirth. However, failing to provide competent care of a 3rd or 4th degree tear, leaving the new mother with appalling bowel problems, may well be regarded as negligent.
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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