Why You Should Concentrate On Improving Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could cause a huge impact on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and it is essential to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor birth Defect attorneys can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's illness could be the result of an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or fail to respond appropriately. This can cause a number of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - swelling of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents determine the reason for the birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications including certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of limb defects and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks of their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive compensation for current and future medical expenses related to the disability or injury and also loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include hospital costs physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover what caused the birth defect so that they can file a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens when they are at work or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to the fact that they interfere with the normal development of a the fetus via chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to expose companies to liability for exposing families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with serious defects as a result 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 believes the birth defect of their child may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

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

For example, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause numerous birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are employed in the manufacturing of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects as well.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a variety of birth defects resulting from improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and bbs.ts3sv.com expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.