Speak "Yes" To These 5 Birth Defect Case Tips

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Attorney

The joy of parenting can be turned into a terrifying experience when you learn that your child was born with a birth defect. Most birth defects require lifelong medical treatment, which can cause a huge financial burden.

A New York birth defects attorney can determine if your child's condition is the result of medical malpractice or harmful chemicals or medications.

Causes of Birth Defects

If your child suffers an abnormality in the birth process that could have been avoided by a medical professional, you should contact a Long Island birth defects attorney as soon as possible. A reputable attorney can handle the previous steps swiftly and efficiently, ensuring you can have the time to grieve for the loss of your family member.

Birth defects are functional or structural changes in the fetus's body which can affect virtually every body part. They can lead to physical issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities like difficulty communicating or learning or having problems with everyday activities like walking or taking care of oneself.

Certain birth defects can be diagnosed before the baby is born using specific tests, such as analyzing cells in a blood sample or by examining samples of amniotic fluid or the placenta. Increasingly, doctors can also diagnose birth defects through ultrasound of the fetus or magnetic resonance imaging.

Some birth defects can be caused by genetic factors, for example abnormalities in the chromosomes and genes. These defects can be passed down by the parents or triggered by mutations in the DNA of the fetus before conception. A few of the more common genetic birth defects include spina bifida, trisomy 21 and Tay-Sachs disease. Many other genetic birth defects have no known cause at all.

Medical Malpractice

If you or birth defects your child has suffered an injury to their body due to an error made by a doctor or health healthcare professional, you may have a claim based on medical malpractice. This could include the failure to diagnose or treat, for example, doctors not taking your symptoms seriously or making a false diagnosis and not beginning the appropriate treatment or failing to follow up on test results and medication errors (e.g. anesthesia errors such as prescribing too much or the wrong medication) and surgical mistakes (e.g., a surgeon removing a retractor blade inside a patient during surgery).

Finding a lawyer with experience in malpractice cases may be a difficult task. You can ask your friends, family members and attorneys from other fields for recommendations. You can also reach out to your state bar association. Many bar associations provide search/referral services to assist you in finding a qualified medical negligence attorney.

Chemical Exposure

Birth problems can be caused by hazardous chemicals that can harm the fetus or mother. Many of these chemicals are present in the workplace where they are used to manufacture items like plastics, batteries, paint and ceramic glazes. These chemicals can be consumed or inhaled, or absorbed by the skin of the body. Certain of these toxins are known to increase the likelihood of the development of birth defects, such as spina-bifida or other physical and psychological conditions.

These chemical agents known as teratogens can be contained in medications negligently prescribed by doctors, in chemical substances used in the workplace like those in semiconductor "clean room" environments, or in toxic substances that pollute the air and water in communities. The Thornton Law Firm has represented numerous parents whose children were born with serious birth defects after the mothers were exposed to glycol ethers, coal ash and pesticides at the place of work.

Contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation today should you suspect that your child's birth defects were caused through medical negligence, toxic exposure or dangerous drug during pregnancy. These claims are highly dependent on time and there are strict deadlines for filing. An experienced attorney can assist you to determine whether your child is able to make a claim and if it should be filed in court or via an agreement to settle.

Product Liability

Many birth defects are caused by an incorrect prescription or exposure to chemicals. It is essential for parents to contact an attorney for birth defects immediately in the event that they believe their child's illness was caused by negligence in the medical field or exposure to dangerous drugs. These cases are often complicated and urgent.

Medical malpractice claims are often caused by environmental factors that can cause birth defects, such as incorrectly prescribed medications or drugs or care that is inadequate during pregnancy. Families should seek legal aid as soon as they can since the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice claim is only one year.

A lawsuit based on a birth defect resulting from medication can also be filed when the doctor was negligent when prescribing a medication to a mother. For instance, if the doctor did not comprehend the interaction of a drug with other medications the woman may be taking or didn't adequately inform her of its possible side effects. A Maryland lawyer for birth defects in medication will assist clients in obtaining damages when a doctor has acted negligently and causes a birth injury or birth defect.

A family that has one of their children born with a severe birth defect could face huge expenses, such as treatment, surgery and treatment for the rest of their child's lifetime. A skilled and experienced birth defect lawyer can assist parents determine if the child's medical condition was the result of medical negligence or a dangerous drug toxic exposure.