A young mother was left with a major, life-changing disability after maternity doctors failed to spot and treat a common birth injury for several years.
Zara Ishfaq was just 26 when she suffered a severe vaginal tear while giving birth to her first child, which could have been resolved with simple stitches.
But despite repeatedly reporting severe pain, gut problems and suffering severe infections, Ms Ishfaq’s injuries went unaddressed.
The tear eventually developed into a 3cm fistula – a hole between the bowel and the vagina – which was eventually detected as the underlying cause of the problems.
Nearly four years after giving birth to
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