Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide In Birth Defect Litigation
Why You Should Hire a birth defect (he has a good point) Lawyer
If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly add up.
A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an action to collect reimbursement for the costs of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defect birth defects may be complex, so you should seek legal advice immediately.
Medical Malpractice
Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. Doctors can be held liable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's condition may have been caused by an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or the birth.
A doctor may also be the cause of birth injuries if they fail in diagnosing or respond adequately to fetal distress. This can result in a variety of serious issues, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.
Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these could lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to review your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.
Prescription Drugs
A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the root of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defect law firm defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of deformities in the limbs and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.
A doctor's duty is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the risks associated with their medicines. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancies.
An attorney for birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapies.
Chemical Exposure
A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to find out the cause of the birth defect to file a lawsuit against companies who expose mothers to teratogens when they are working or in their homes.
Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they influence the healthy development of a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings, including processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.
Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.
Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for exposing families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.
Environmental Exposure
Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.
If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from the environment They could cause serious birth defects. These substances are known as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.
For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause numerous birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects can also be linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.
LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a range of birth defects caused by unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.
