Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide Towards Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating impact on you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing an action to collect compensation for the cost of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their babies. A doctor can be held liable for birth defect damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can help determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail in diagnosing or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This can lead to a range of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by events during pregnancy, birth, or labor. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's a swelling on the scalp. Both of these conditions can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury, or defect. Many birth defects are caused by genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a profound effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of limb defects and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not properly inform mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family receive compensation for future and current medical expenses associated with the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit for families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities because due to the negligence of corporations exposing pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. They are trained to identify the cause of birth defects so they can bring a case against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals can be found in diverse settings like semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have gotten substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical or chemical substances, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chances of having birth defects as well.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits typically require an extensive scientific analysis as well as expert witnesses, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.