Birth Defect Litigation: A Simple Definition

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth it could be devastating for you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could assist you seek reimbursement for the expenses of taking care of your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in birth defect or injury or injury, they could be held responsible for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects can determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or fail to respond appropriately. This could lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or the birth. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide 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 lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the cause of a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy but they can also happen due to medications. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers of the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancies.

An attorney for birth defects can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well 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 who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of birth defects, so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to the fact that they influence the healthy development of a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals are found in various settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by an unintended medical error and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defect in their child could be a result of medical malpractice, birth defect lawyers prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should talk to an DC birth defect law firm injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Some of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated can cause numerous birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects resulting from improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.