20 Myths About Birth Defect Attorney: Dispelled

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing an expectant parent wants to hear: Their child may have a birth defect. These problems are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Screening for newborns and prenatal tests can be utilized by a healthcare professional to diagnose certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. Other birth defects can be discovered only after the springfield birth defect law firm of your child, or after symptoms start to show.

What was the cause of your child's error?

The root of many birth defects is not known. There are a few factors that can increase the risk of the mother having a child with birth defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or drugs before getting pregnant or having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with a family history of these conditions are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to becoming pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child varies on the body part affected and how much is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect then the more severe the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genetics or the environment during the fetal growth. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by learning about your family's history with health issues and genes, talking to a genetic counselor and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects are those that change the way a part of your body looks or works. They may range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorder. Genetic disorders that are inherited may be a sign of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to brain or spinal cord development not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to learn more about a possible birth defect. Amniocentesis is one example, where a healthcare provider takes tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure may reveal chromosomal irregularities and other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can test the amniotic liquid, blood and the fetus's tissues for signs of birth defect. These tests are vital in finding out the reason for birth defect. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and the impact it has on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, even as an adult. This is due to the fact that these issues are not readily apparent until they are present, and are often recognized with the help of diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the technologies and have the knowledge and experience required to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience should be able to identify the appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause lasting physical and mental health challenges that require medical attention for the rest of their lives.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of about 30% of birth defects, others remain unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, like those in prescription or over-the-counter medications that mothers take or in toxic chemicals found in communities and homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the medication used by the expecting mother and inform her of any potential risks to the baby. If they fail in this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to examine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray instruments, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment, Clairton Birth Defect Lawsuit or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could cause grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. If this occurs it's crucial to contact a medical negligence lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're only given one year to file a medical negligence case, so the sooner you begin the process the more favorable.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects are the main cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These conditions can be life-threatening, and can result in lasting physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In some instances, researchers have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, toxins accumulated in the environment as well as maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and birth, or medical history of the family (like genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, PKU). However, in the majority of birth defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain mount olive birth defect attorney defects, including clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to see and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Some birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and development disabilities, require special tests to detect.

Researchers are attempting to determine the causes of maitland birth Defect lawyer defects and how they can be prevented. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child with certain defects. Women with a family history involving genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to speak with a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They can also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to gather information about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.