Tips For Explaining Birth Defect Litigation To Your Mom

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file a claim to recover compensation for the expenses of caring for your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If the actions of a doctor do not meet the standards and cause an injury or birth defect the doctor could be held responsible for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects can determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or birth defect lawyer delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can result in numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to examine your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents identify the cause of a child's birth injury, or defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy, they can also occur because of medications. A variety of common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines as well as certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's job is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in the first trimester of pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for the future and present medical expenses that result from the disability or injury, as well as loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in various settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( 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 against a variety of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth defect law firms injury lawyer to discuss their case.

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

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers, which are used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase a woman's risk of birth defects as well.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a wide range of birth defects caused by the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.