Birth Defect Litigation: A Simple Definition

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an action to collect compensation for the cost of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, and you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. Doctors can be held accountable for any damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's condition could have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. 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 because they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery or labor. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may provide a free consultation to examine your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able help parents determine the root of an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects result from genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's job is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the risks associated with their medicines. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major birth defect lawsuit in the first trimester of pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital or pharmaceutical expenses, as well aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit for families of children who have congenital disabilities because due to the negligence of corporations that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the reason for birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a embryo through chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different locations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been shown to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawsuit defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who have children who were born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family believes the birth defect in their child could result from medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defect law firms defects when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger various birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects are associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are known to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a variety of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.