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, it can be devastating for you and your entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an appeal to receive compensation for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for any damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's health condition may be the result of an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of these conditions can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the most appropriate method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents identify the root of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and many more. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to meet the standards of care required, they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers about the risks associated with their medicines. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major birth defect lawyer defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for future and current medical expenses that result from the injury or disability, in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the reason for birth defects so they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they affect the healthy development a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in diverse settings like manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family is concerned that the birth defect of their child could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects are related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers that are employed in the manufacturing of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are well-known to increase the chance of having birth defects.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a range of birth defects resulting from wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists embryologists and occupational medicine experts.