Episiotomy and Birth Tears
If you're suffering after an episiotomy or birth tear that wasn't properly performed or repaired, we understand the physical discomfort and emotional distress you're experiencing. At The Medical Law Partnership, we specialise in helping women like you claim compensation when preventable mistakes during childbirth have caused lasting harm. We know how deeply these injuries can affect your daily life, relationships, and confidence, and we're here to help you get the justice and support you deserve.
How common are errors in Episiotomy and birth tears?
Episiotomies (deliberate cuts made during childbirth) and natural tearing affect thousands of women each year in the UK. While many heal well with proper care, we see too many cases where mistakes during the procedure or repair have led to long-term problems. Research suggests up to 1 in 10 women experience complications from these procedures. Common issues include severe pain, incontinence, infections, and difficulties with intimacy. When these problems result from medical negligence rather than unavoidable complications, you may have grounds for a compensation claim.
Several mistakes can occur that may constitute negligence. An episiotomy might have been performed unnecessarily or in the wrong direction, causing more damage than a natural tear would have. The repair might have been done incorrectly, with stitches that were too tight, missed layers of tissue, or using inappropriate technique. Medical staff may have failed to properly identify and classify a severe tear (such as 3rd or 4th degree tears extending to the anal sphincter), leading to inadequate treatment.
We’ve handled cases where warning signs of complications were ignored during aftercare, allowing infections to develop or wounds to break down. Some women aren’t given proper advice about recovery, or their ongoing symptoms are dismissed as “normal”. If you’ve experienced any of these situations and are now dealing with lasting consequences, we can investigate whether the care you received fell below acceptable standards.
Beginning your claim with us is straightforward, and we’ll handle everything with the sensitivity this personal matter deserves. When you first contact us, one of our specialist solicitors – who understand exactly what you’ve been through – will listen carefully to your experience. We’ll explain the legal process in clear language and assess whether you may have grounds for a claim.
We’ll obtain your maternity records and arrange for independent medical experts to review what happened. These experts help determine whether your injuries resulted from substandard care rather than unavoidable complications. If we believe you have a strong case, we’ll guide you through every step while keeping you fully informed. Importantly, we work on a no win, no fee basis, so you can pursue justice without worrying about upfront costs.
The compensation you may receive depends on how the negligence has affected your life. It can include awards for the pain and suffering caused by the initial injury and any subsequent corrective treatments you’ve needed. Some of our clients receive compensation for the psychological impact of their experience, including funds for counselling.
If you’ve developed ongoing problems like incontinence or pain during intercourse, this will be reflected in your award. You may be able to claim for lost earnings if you’ve needed extra time off work, or if your ability to work has been affected. The costs of private treatments, specialist physiotherapy, or counselling can be included. In severe cases where further surgery is needed, future medical costs can form part of your claim. We’ll ensure every aspect of your suffering – physical, emotional and practical – is properly accounted for.
Most birth injury claims take between two to four years to resolve, though complex cases can take longer. We understand this may feel frustrating when you’re dealing with daily discomfort, but thorough investigation is essential to secure the best possible outcome for you.
The process involves carefully reviewing your medical records, obtaining expert opinions, and sometimes negotiating with healthcare providers. While we work as efficiently as possible, we won’t rush your claim at the expense of achieving full and fair compensation. Throughout the process, we’ll keep you regularly updated and explain each development in clear terms. Starting your claim sooner rather than later helps ensure all relevant evidence is preserved.
Contact The Medical Law Partnership today.
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