Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide In 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 effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, birth defect medical bills and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could assist to file a claim for compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held responsible for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's illness could be due to an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or properly respond to fetal distress. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. Injuries can include ailments like Erb's palsy, which occurs when the nerves that power and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to examine your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the reason for the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs such as certain antibiotics and more. These drugs have been linked to an increase in risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to consider the risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be held accountable for Birth Defect medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help families get reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses related to the disability or injury as well as loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's or pharmaceutical costs, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are called teratogens due to the fact that they affect the healthy development a foetus by causing chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals are used in a variety of settings including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who had children born with severe birth defects due to 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 due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water and a few are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium in contaminated coal for instance, can cause birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects are associated with 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 a woman's chance of having birth defect attorney defects as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits often involve complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.