From Around The Web The 20 Most Amazing Infographics About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity, it can cause a lot of grief for you and your entire family. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects may be able to help you seek reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so 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 defect attorneys defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine whether your child's health condition may be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be responsible for a birth injury when they fail to diagnose or respond adequately to distress in the fetus. This can result in a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are caused due to something happening during pregnancy, labor, or birth. Injuries can result from ailments like Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves that stimulate and control an infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both of these can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to examine your case and determine the most appropriate course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the cause of the birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is particularly applicable in the early months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the dangers of their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify the reason for the birth defect to sue companies who expose mothers to teratogens while they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus through making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or create organs to be malformed. These chemicals can be found in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been shown to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of firms that were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the environment and then develop birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water Some of them are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium in coal that is contaminated may cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a myriad of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or birth defect lawyers at home. These lawsuits typically involve complex scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.