7 Things About Birth Defect Attorneys You ll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

Being aware that your child has a birth defect can turn what was supposed to be an exciting experience to a stressful and unsure experience. Contact an attorney for medical malpractice and a birth defect lawyer as soon as is possible.

You will need to gather bills and receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to receive the full amount of compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented families in court cases against large electronics companies as well as agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or errors that occur during pregnancy are responsible for numerous birth defects. Certain of these problems are more serious than others however they can be all devastating for the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor committed an error that caused the injury or defect.

Certain birth defects are capable of being detected through screening tests that doctors perform during pregnancy. These tests can be conducted and interpret correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth deformity. This information will allow them to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the physician fails to take or interpret the results of these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical negligence.

Medical treatments for birth defect are typically expensive. These treatments can include procedures, specialists, medications, physical and speech therapies, and assistive equipment. A lawsuit based on wrongful birth can assist in easing the burden of these costs. This will allow families to provide the services their child requires. Medical malpractice cases are complicated and time-sensitive, which is why it's important to hire an experienced attorney as quickly as possible.

Prescription Drugs

While modern technology and recent advances in the field of medicine have drastically reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects however, they're still a possibility. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries typically require a lifetime of medical care. In some cases they can cause death. A Boston lawyer who is knowledgeable about dangerous drugs can help parents recover compensation to cover their child's medical expenses now and in the near future, which includes hospitalizations, doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and more.

A physician could be committing medical malpractice if they prescribe a medication to a pregnant woman that increases the likelihood of her child being born with a birth defect. They are required to know which medications could negatively affect fetal growth and to avoid prescribing harmful medications to the baby's fetus.

Prescription drugs that increase the risk of having a birth defect are referred to as Teratogens. They include anti-seizure drugs such as Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has warned against using these drugs during pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk of developing Cleft palates, cleft lips and heart, lung and other brain disorders. These drugs can also cause miscarriage in women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents can sue their doctors, the makers of the drugs as well as the pharmacists who dispensed the medications for failing to warn them of the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often ask the reason their child was born with a birth deformity. Birth defects can be caused by a range of causes, such as drug side effects as well as toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These birth defect attorneys defects can be minor or serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect is the result of faulty genetics. However, a substantial portion of birth problems are the result of exposure to chemicals or environmental elements which occurs in the womb. These are known as teratogens. They increase the chance of developing structural or functional abnormalities that are not reverseable in offspring.

There are a myriad of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harms and many people around the country are exposed to them every day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is long, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories that have clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms, and plastics, paint, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities.

It's not uncommon for companies to fail to inform their customers of the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families in fighting big corporations that put profits before the health and safety their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

Being a parent of a child who has an anomaly in the birth process can be extremely distressing for parents since they will require medical attention throughout the life of their child. Certain birth defects can cause mental and physical disabilities in the infant for the rest of their lives, depending on the degree of the defect.

Some birth defects can't be prevented due to genetics. However, environmental or chemical exposure can cause many others. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that a mother might ingest, or chemical substances that are contaminated air or groundwater.

In addition to medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits are brought against businesses or individuals that are accountable for the injury suffered by the child. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a drug which increases the risk of your child's birth defect, they may be held responsible.

This is also true for companies or individuals who expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have revealed that exposures to pesticides or fungicides, as well as paints, metals and lead may increase the risk of the child developing certain kinds of birth defects. In order to combat this issue, lawsuits were filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning facilities as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. The development of a Web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance system in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, birth defect lawsuits P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.