Case Study
A recent case arising from a perineal tear 30 years ago offers an interesting example of how even decades later, medical negligence proceedings can result in meaningful acknowledgment of harm and substantial damages of €1.1m plus an indemnity in respect of the ongoing provision of certain medical expenses likely to amount to a further €300,000.
Our client had several children but on the birth of her third, some 30 years ago, her delivery was poorly managed and she suffered a tear to her perineum – the area of soft tissues and muscle between her vagina and anus.
Such tears, if they involve the musculature around the anus called the anal sphincter can cause very serious consequences for a person, resulting in faecal incontinence, loss of flatal control, shortening of the perineum and changes to the structures of the vagina or external genitalia such that sexual intercourse becomes unbearably painful.