Many women who have children assume that they will be able to return to work without any health problems after they have healed from childbirth. In most cases, that expectation is valid, and the woman returns to work when she is released to do so. There are some instances, however, in which the new mother is unable to return to work. For one opera singer, a botched episiotomy is causing problems that necessitated her not working.
The mezzo-soprano singer went to Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in February of 2012 to have her son. The baby’s birth records show that the boy had a shoulder blocking his delivery. The woman’s nurse-midwife opted to do an episiotomy to help with the child’s delivery. The new mother claims that she didn’t consent to the surgery that involves cutting the tissue between the anus and vagina.
After leaving the hospital, the new mother began to experience difficulty controlling bowel movements and had gas coming out of her vagina. A nurse allegedly let the new mother know that the attempt to repair the episiotomy was unsuccessful because of a complete breakdown of tissue.
She will have to have surgery to repair the botched episiotomy, but doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center reportedly told the woman that won’t cure her condition. She has opted not to have the reconstructive surgery yet because it would necessitate her having caesarian deliveries with future pregnancies.
The woman is suing the government for $2.5 million because of the botched episiotomy. She says her extreme flatulence and fecal incontinence have left her unable to work.
Those who have also suffered injuries due to nurse-midwife errors might have claims for compensation. Working with an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you learn about legal recourse that might be available to you.
If you believe you have a valid Ohio or Kentucky birth injury case, speak with the Cincinnati and Covington medical malpractice attorneys at The Lawrence Firm, PSC right away.
Source: New York Daily News, “Flatulent opera singer unable to perform after military nurse botches episiotomy during childbirth: suit” Lee Moran, Jan. 23, 2014