10 Things That Your Family Teach You About Birth Defect Lawyer

A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice

A child's birth defect can drastically alter the life of your family. It is crucial to act fast should a medical professional committed malpractice during your pregnancy, which caused your child's condition.

An experienced lawyer for birth defect attorneys injuries can assist you in filing an action against those who are responsible. In the meantime, you can begin collecting receipts, bills and credit card statements.

Causes of Birth Defects

Birth defects can have many causes. However, some of them are due to genetic disorders, where genes aren't functioning properly or are missing completely (like Turner syndrome and Down syndrome). They may also be caused by chromosomal issues, where some or all of the chromosomes have excessive or insufficient cells.

These types of problems are usually identified in utero by ultrasound or amniocentesis, where amniotic fluid from the uterus is taken and examined for chromosomal variations and genetic anomalies. In some cases doctors may not discover the birth defect until the child is born or has symptoms, such as having an extra finger, cleft lip, or club foot.

Birth problems can be caused by issues in the brain, nervous system or the musculoskeletal system. These problems affect the joints, muscles, and bones. They can vary from mild to severe and affect an individual's appearance or function, such as their learning abilities as well as their strength and mobility.

While some birth defects cannot be avoided, a few can be prevented. Couples with a history of certain genetic diseases should consider testing their genetics before attempting to have children. In addition, avoiding exposure to certain chemicals or medications, as well as other environmental factors can decrease the chance of developing some birth defects. Medical mistakes and negligence in the treatment of pregnant women could also result in birth defects. It is imperative to consult an attorney who deals with birth defects when you suspect that a medical error may have caused your child's condition.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects cases involving medical negligence can be a bit complicated and require expert testimony. A skilled and empathetic medical malpractice lawyer can assist your family get justice and get the money you need to ensure your child is able to live a normal life.

Your attorney will first pinpoint the birth defect that your child has and then link it to the medical professionals involved in its birth. The lawyer will also have to determine the time when the birth defect was diagnosed. This is important as it will help you determine when you must make a claim before the statute of limitations runs out.

It is also important for your attorney to have access to your medical records as well as any other documents that you have related to the birth defect that your child has such as receipts, bills and credit card transactions. This will help your attorney prove the extent of your child's injuries and determine the type of compensation you are entitled to receive.

Birth defects can be triggered in many ways, including medical or genetic disorders, exposure to illnesses and infections, as well as exposure to drugs or chemicals. The majority of birth defect are not caused by medical malpractice or negligence. Only when a doctor fails to meet his or her duty of care and this causes birth injuries will a medical malpractice lawsuit be justified.

Drugs

Birth defects are atypical conditions that appear in a baby's body during the birth process or during pregnancy. The Centers for Birth Defect Disease Control (CDC) states that these conditions can affect any part of the body and vary from mild to life-threatening.

These conditions are typically caused by the mother's lifestyle or genetics. In some instances medical malpractice can be the cause of the child's illness. A skilled Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help parents discover the root of their child's illness and take legal action.

Drugs can cause birth defects that are serious. These substances, also known as teratogens, include both prescription drugs and illegal street drugs. Thalidomide was once extensively used as a sleep aid and anti-nausea pregnancy medication but it proved to be the cause of some of the most severe birth defects ever recorded. It caused limb-reduction defects as well as mental and physical impairments.

Doctors have a professional duty to consider the risks associated with certain drugs they prescribe to pregnant women. If they fail to take this step, they commit malpractice. In addition, pharmaceutical pharmacies and companies have the responsibility of educating women of the dangers of taking their medications.

Toxic Exposure

Although many birth defects are the result of a genetic disorder that could not be prevented, a few of them are the result of exposure to toxic chemicals while in utero. These chemicals are often present in the medicines a pregnant woman takes and in environmental contaminants at the workplace or at home as well as in toxic chemical agents in a workplace. These chemicals are known as teratogens and are able to cause serious birth defects, including spina bifida, developmental delays, skeletal deformities, brain damage, muscular dystrophy and low birth weight deformities of the limbs, and heart problems.

Some toxins, such as arsenic and cadmium can be found in soil and drinking water. Lead is a common chemical that is found in paints for homes and art materials as well as plastics and cosmetics. Other toxic substances include pharmaceuticals, such as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which have been found to increase the risk of birth defects.

A lawyer who is specialized in birth defect cases can assist parents to determine if the chemical or drug was the proximate cause of the birth injury suffered by their child. In these cases our lawyers can file a product liability claim against the chemical or drug manufacturer that designed and manufactured a dangerous medication. We can also make a claim to sue doctors who prescribe drugs that are known to cause adverse side effects in pregnant women.