Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect this can have a devastating effect on your family and you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects could help to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, which is why you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. Doctors can be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits for birth defects will help you determine if your child's health condition may have been caused by an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and do not respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may offer a free consultation in order to analyze your case and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents determine the reason for the birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from birth defects or genetics. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a profound effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and brain deformities, heart defects, and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to consider the potential risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their drugs. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This could include hospital expenses, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, in addition to assistive devices, and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring an action on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine what caused the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens while they are at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and Birth defect lawyers other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus through producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or cause malformed organs. These chemicals can be found in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family believes that the birth defect of their child could be a result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects can also be associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are known to increase the risk of developing birth defects too.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects caused by the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.