20 Things You Need To Know About Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you discover that your child was born with a birth defect what could have been a thrilling time can quickly turn into a time filled with anxiety and uncertainty. It is crucial to contact an experienced medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer immediately.

You will need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments, and other evidence of your losses in order to be able to claim full reimbursement for your losses. We have successfully represented families in cases against large electronics companies, agricultural pesticide manufacturers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or mistakes that occur during pregnancy are responsible for numerous birth defects. Some of these problems are more severe than others however, they can be all devastating for the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer will help determine if the doctor's error that led to the defect or injury.

Doctors can spot some birth defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be performed and interpreted correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information can permit them to terminate the pregnancy or at a minimum, prepare for the birth of the child and treatment. If the doctor is unable to perform or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this may be considered medical malpractice.

Treatments for birth defects are typically expensive. They can include surgeries, specialists, medication, physical and speech therapies as well as assistive equipment. A lawsuit for wrongful birth could help alleviate the financial burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the medical care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complicated and time-sensitive. It's therefore important to hire an experienced attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Although the advancement of technology and developments in the field of medicine have drastically reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects but they are still a possibility. Birth defects that are serious or moderate and injuries typically require a lifetime of medical attention. In some instances they can even lead to death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can assist parents to recover compensation to cover their child's medical expenses in the present and in the future, such as hospitalizations and doctor's appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and much more.

If a physician prescribes medication to a pregnant mother that increases the risk of her child having a birth defect, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to be aware of the medications that could negatively affect the growth of the fetus and not prescribe drugs harmful to the foetus.

Prescription medications that increase the risk of a birth defect law firm defect are referred to as Teratogens. They include anti-seizure drugs like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings regarding the use of these medicines during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates as well as the brain, lung and heart abnormalities. These medications also pose a chance of miscarriage in women who are nursing or pregnant. Parents can sue their doctors, the manufacturers of the medications and the pharmacists who prescribed the medications for failing to warn about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

When a baby is born with a birth defect, parents often ask themselves what caused it. Birth defects can be caused by a range of causes, including medication side effects and toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These birth defects can be minor or serious or even life-threatening. Most of the time, a birth defect is an unfortunate genetic anomaly that occurs due to no fault of the mother. Birth defects can be caused by environmental or chemical exposure during pregnancy. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens and increase the risk of irreversible functional or structural problems in offspring.

A lot of Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every day. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms to pesticides on farms and nurseries and plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing plants, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is lengthy.

It's not unusual for companies to fail to inform their customers of the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families to fight big corporations that place profits before the safety and health of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely upset by a child's birth defect due to the fact that they will have to provide medical treatment for the entire life of their child. Some birth defects can cause mental and physical disabilities for the baby for life depending on the degree of the defect.

While some birth defects are not preventable due to genetics, birth defect lawyer others can be triggered through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These could include prescription medications or toxic chemicals that could be ingested by the mother, or even from chemicals that have contaminated the air or groundwater in a community.

In addition to medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can be filed against individuals or businesses that are accountable for the injury suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes medication that increases the risk of developing a birth defect, then they could be held accountable.

This is also the case for businesses or individuals who expose their workers to harmful chemicals and substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to fungicides, pesticides in combination with lead, metals, and paints can increase the likelihood of having a child who has certain types of birth defects. In this regard, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories due to their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.