Negligent Use of Forceps Claims

Negligent Use Of Forceps Claims

Sometimes even when the baby is due and ready to arrive, there can be obstacles in their delivery that require additional equipment, such as forceps. These are smooth metal instruments that look like large spoons or tongs. They are designed to fit snugly around a baby’s head and are used by midwives to help the baby leave the birth canal if it is struggling to do so otherwise. Using a combination of labour contractions, pushing on the part of the mother, and the help of an obstetrician using the forceps to pull the baby’s head, birth can be made less painful and delivery slightly easier, but there are risks involved:

• Tearing – around 1 in 100 women who have a normal vaginal birth will experience tearing, this rises to around 1 in 10 when forceps are used.
• Blood clots – there is a higher risk of blood clots when instruments such as forceps are used.
• Incontinence – either urinary or anal incontinence can result from the use of forceps.
• Damage to the baby – in some cases the forceps can leave marks on the baby’s face, although these usually disappear within 48 hours.

One example is a 26-year-old woman who suffered from a traumatic delivery due to the use of forceps during her child’s birth. She suffered a third-degree tear and damage to her anal sphincter which was supposedly repaired during the operation. However, doctors failed to recognise the extent of the damage and therefore failed to properly treat the injury. She was left incontinent and in a great deal of pain, for which she successfully claimed £135,000 from the hospital.

If you or someone you care for has suffered as a result of negligent use of forceps, or when their use has led to damage either to mother or baby, then it is likely that you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Our friendly and highly experienced solicitors are on hand now to take your call and listen to your story. We will help and advise you on the best course of action, if needs be employing independent medical specialists to provide key medical information. When you commence a claim with us you are under no obligation to continue with it if you decide not to. Most of our claims are funded on a no-win-no-fee basis and so it will not cost you anything to get the justice, and the pay-out you deserve.