Undiagnosed Bowel Injury in Childbirth and When to Claim Compensation
Severe birth tears in childbirth, which can cause permanent bowel symptoms, are a known risk. It is essential that they are diagnosed as quickly as possible. A failure of diagnosis or a delay in diagnosis may leave the new mother with permanent bowel problems.
Diagnosis failures
Failing to diagnose a 3rd or 4th degree tear, as these appalling injuries are more precisely known, is a form of medical negligence.
3rd and 4th degree tears, which can occasionally occur during the vaginal delivery of a baby, cause damage to the muscles around the anus which control the passing of wind and faeces. These injuries are not insignificant. Medical guidelines state the need for thorough examination of every woman who gives birth through the vagina. This should ensure that every woman who has suffered a 3rd or 4th degree tear is diagnosed correctly and then repaired surgically to ensure that her tear symptoms resolve.
Unfortunately, this does not always happen. A failure to diagnose may be due to a number of reasons including the following:
- A failure to carry out a digital rectal examination of the new mother
- A failure to recognise that a tear has occurred to the anal sphincter
- A failure to provide a correct diagnosis of the injury, such as identifying a 3c tear as a lesser 3a tear
Making a claim for compensation
If you are struggling with distressing and disabling bowel problems following the birth of your baby, you may have an undiagnosed severe tear. It may be that you have recently discovered that you had a tear which was not diagnosed at the time of your baby's birth.
If so, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation for the consequences of the negligent medical care which failed to diagnose your injury.
If you are now struggling to work, for example, your loss of income would be included in a successful claim.
If you need specialist treatment or equipment to help you to manage your symptoms, the costs of this would also be included in your claim.
Contact a legal specialist
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice. We have numerous clients who have suffered negligence related to a severe birth injury and can offer a depth of understanding of the distress and impact of these life changing injuries.
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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