10 Things We Are Hateful About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect, it can have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects can help you claim compensation to cover the costs of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects may be complex, so you should consult with a legal professional as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor do not meet the standards and result in birth defects or injuries or injury, they could be held accountable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's illness could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or birth defects delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This could lead to many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or the birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is the caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation in order to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the pregnancy of a mother but they can also happen as a result of medication. A variety of common medications can have a significant impact on fetuses especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to consider these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the risks that come with their medication. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major birth defects defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

An attorney for birth defects can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

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 who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the growth of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in many different environments, including processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for exposing families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by an unintended medical error and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects that a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens is the name given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects, as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.