Life And Society

Legal firm hoping for challenges to ACC over birth tears

07:48 am on 6 April 2021

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A legal firm is hoping people will come forward to legally challenge ACC's changes to its cover of serious injuries suffered during childbirth.

RNZ reported last week that midwives have called on ACC to reconsider the adjustment made last June that has reduced its payouts for painful perineal tears, the most common type of birth injury.

Brittany Peck is a solicitor at John Miller Law, a firm that specialises in ACC compensation.

She fears those who suffer tears will be reluctant to challenge for compensation given the complex process they now have to negotiate.

Peck spoke to Susie Ferguson.