Watch Out: How Birth Defect Litigation Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth this can be devastating for you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects could assist to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, which is why you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor are not in line with this standard and cause a birth defect or injury or injury, they could be held accountable for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits will help you determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or fail to respond appropriately. This can cause numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or delivery. The causes of injuries include ailments like Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves which energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during the birth process as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may offer a free consultation in order to review your case, and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind an infant's birth injury. While many birth defect law firm defects are due to the genetics of the pregnancy of a mother but they can also happen because of medications. A variety of commonly used medications can have negative effects on foetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These medications have been linked to an increase in chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's job is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to the requirements of this standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not adequately warning mothers about the risks associated with their medications. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs and other costs, in addition to assistive devices, and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf 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. They are trained to identify the root of the birth defect so that they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose mothers to teratogens while they work or at their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to the fact that they affect the development of a healthy foetus by causing chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in diverse settings like the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and Birth Defect Attorney paint production.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits in order 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 defects lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe defects resulting from the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family is concerned that the birth defect of their child could be a result of medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some can be harmful when they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects can also be associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can 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 experienced birth defect attorneys have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.