Birth Defect Litigation: A Simple Definition

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville birth defect lawsuit defect lawyer can help you file claim for reimbursement for birth defect lawsuit the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous, so it is important to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in an injury or birth defect, they can be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits will help you determine if your child's condition may be the result of an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This could lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup, while injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or the birth. The causes of injuries include conditions such as Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves that energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth defect law firm and the caput succedaneum is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the cause of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a significant effect on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs including certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked to an increase in chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is a doctor's professional duty to consider the potential risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet the standards of care required, they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks that come with their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help families get compensation for future and current medical expenses related to the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called teratogens due to the fact that they interfere with the normal development of a embryo through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals are used in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who had children born with serious defects as a result of the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an 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 consumed by or birth defect lawsuit taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our food, air and water and some are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, may cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawsuit defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a wide range of birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or at home. These lawsuits often involve complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.