Episiotomy Birth Injuries
Among the numerous types of potential medical malpractice negligence birth injuries are those involving episiotomies. An episiotomy is a common procedure in which an incision is made through a mother’s or surrogate’s perineum during childbirth.1 In some cases, episiotomies result in episiotomy birth injuries that affect a mother (or surrogate), a baby, or both.
For example, according to doctors Wise and Kodner in an article in Clinical Gynecology, the rate of a mother experiencing a sphincter injury due to a midline episiotomy during vaginal delivery is up to nine-fold that of a mother who does not have an episiotomy.2 Potential episiotomy birth injury complications due to medical malpractice negligence include:3,4,5,6
– Perineal pain
– Fistulas
– Urinary tract problems (pain, incontinence)
– Pain during intercourse
– Pelvic floor dysfunction
– Unintended lacerations (including to infant)
– Scars
– Depression
In some instances, episiotomy birth injuries are due to doctor error. Failure to properly monitor birthing stages, for example, may result in an episiotomy birth injury. In such a case, a doctor may be liable for medical malpractice negligence in the form of an episiotomy birth injury.
Overall, obstetricians, physicians, birthing teams, hospitals, birthing centers, and other medical professionals or entities may be liable in provable cases of episiotomy birth injuries, and there may in fact be dual liability or multiple liabilities in which more than one medical professional or entity is responsible.
In addition to the physical and emotional devastation of an episiotomy birth injury are monetary compensation issues. When settlements in such medical malpractice birth injury cases are being deliberated, considerations for potential future needs and expenses must be taken into account. Costs for medical supplies, equipment (including pillows, pads, gel cushions), surgeries, specialists, home care, specialty medications, and other vital needs can be extensive and can create further devastation in the form of monetary inadequacy for victims of episiotomy birth injuries. Not to mention the potential for lost wages in severe episiotomy birth injury cases caused by provable medical malpractice negligence.
Choosing an expert birth-injury lawyer or legal team in these and similar provable medical malpractice cases is an essential step, not only to help ensure justice, but also to secure fair, inclusive compensation for all likely or known future health needs. Richard “Bo” Sharp, Esq. and Mallard & Sharp, P.A.’s goal is to obtain justice for individuals and families who are victims of birth injury medical malpractice negligence, especially in instances in which such malpractice occurs during labor and delivery. This includes cases involving long-term birth injuries and episiotomy birth injuries.
Mallard & Sharp, P.A. is dedicated to providing every client with the path to justice and financial recovery. The firm is well noted for handling a wide variety of legal cases that involve birth injuries, medical malpractice negligence, and negligent security, as well as any other acts of negligence that cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death to individuals.
For more information or to inquire about obtaining expert legal representation for a potential birth injury medical malpractice negligence case, including one involving an Episiotomy Birth Injury, contact Mallard & Sharp, P.A. at 305-461-4800.
1 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/episiotomy
2 Paul E. Wise, Ira J. Kodner, Chapter 27 – Surgical Treatment of Fecal Incontinence, Editor(s): Eric J. Bieber, Joseph S. Sanfilippo, Ira R. Horowitz, Clinical Gynecology, Churchill Livingstone, 2006, Pages 355-373, ISBN 9780443066917,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-06691-7.50032-7.
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27253/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558305/
5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7885655/
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4531382/
number of tears: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559068/
episiotomies not needed: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/episiotomy/art-20047282
suturing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17943747/
long and short term complications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558305/
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443066917500327)