A Trip Back In Time: What People Discussed About Birth Defect Litigation 20 Years Ago

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect it can have a devastating effect on you and your entire family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, so you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their babies. 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 whether your child's condition may be the result of an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose fetal distress or fail to respond appropriately. This can cause a number of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth Defect lawsuit birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy, or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another injury is the 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 offer a free consultation in order to examine your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to help parents determine the reason behind a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and the factors that influence the pregnancy of a mother however, they may also occur as a result of medications. A variety of common medications can have a significant effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines as well as certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to an increase in risk of limb defects and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's responsibility is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the dangers associated with their medicines. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major birth Defect lawsuit defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for the future and present medical expenses that result from the disability or injury as well as loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify the reason for the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against the companies who expose mothers to teratogens when they are working or in their home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are among the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens because they affect the healthy development of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in various settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defect lawsuit defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could result from medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are known as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause numerous birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a wide range of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits typically require complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.