During her pregnancy, our client repeatedly stated that she did not want forceps under any circumstances due to complications following a previous forceps delivery in 2017. She made clear that, if intervention was needed, she wished to proceed straight to caesarean section. Despite this, no plan was made to avoid instrumental delivery.

In October 2019, labour progressed with periods of suspicious/pathological CTG. After over an hour of pushing, a registrar decided on instrumental delivery. A Kiwi attempt failed, and forceps were then applied without any discussion of alternatives, including caesarean section. The baby was delivered occipito-posterior/brow.

Our client sustained a complex 3B tear with distorted anatomy. Transfer to theatre for repair was delayed more than six hours. Her post-partum recovery was complicated by infection, a vulval abscess, and significant faecal urgency and incontinence. Ultrasound confirmed an anterior external sphincter defect.

She underwent external sphincter repair and loop sigmoid colostomy in December 2019, with reversal in April 2020, followed by further hernia repair and perineal refashioning. She was diagnosed with PTSD related to the traumatic delivery and subsequent surgeries.

The claim alleged failure to respect her birth plan, failure to offer caesarean section, inappropriate decision for instrumental delivery, poor management of the OP/brow presentation, and delay in repairing the tear. A successful settlement reflected the severe physical and psychological consequences of the negligence.