The Ultimate Glossary Of Terms About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity it can be devastating for your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects could assist you claim compensation for the cost of caring for your children with disabilities. 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 are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. When a doctor's actions are in violation of this standard and result in birth defect or injury and/or death, they may be held responsible for damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in Birth Defect Lawsuits - Pezedium.Free.Fr - can help you determine whether your child's condition could be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This can lead to many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and 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 makeup and injuries are triggered by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. These injuries can be caused by conditions such as Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of these could result in 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 best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to help parents determine the reason for a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and factors during the mother's pregnancy, they can also occur as a result of medications. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet this standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers associated with their products. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, Birth defect Lawsuits was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families receive compensation for future and current medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury, in addition to loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital costs as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the reason for birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are among the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus through making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or lead to malformed organs. These chemicals can be used in a variety of situations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies who were responsible for birth defect lawsuits exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who had children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are called teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our food, air and water and some could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, utilized in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are known to increase a woman's risk of birth defects as well.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a range of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.