Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity, it can have a devastating effect on your family and you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

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

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and cause a birth defect or injury the doctor could be held accountable for the damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits for birth defects will help you determine if your child's health condition may be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and fail to respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered by something that happens during labor, pregnancy, or during delivery. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum which is swelling of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to review your case and determine the best method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to assist parents in determining the cause for the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are the result of the genetics of a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur due to medications. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses, Birth Defect Attorney particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in many different locations, such as processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have obtained significant settlements for families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb pollutants from the environment, they can cause serious birth defects. Teratogens are the term used to describe these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our food, air and water and some are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects resulting from improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.