10 Things We All Do Not Like About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect, it can cause a huge impact on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing an appeal to receive compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complex, so you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in a birth defect or injury or injury, they could be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's health condition may be due to an error made by a doctor during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail identify fetal distress, or do not respond appropriately. This can result in a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued 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 look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the reason behind the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a significant impact on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers of the risks of their medication. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include hospital expenses physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit for parents of children with congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the root of the birth defect so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies that expose mothers to teratogens when they work or at their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens because they affect the growth of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or lead to organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are used in diverse settings like the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in 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 these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water and some could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects, as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a wide range of birth defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses, Birth defect lawyers such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.