Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity it could have a devastating effect on your family as well as you. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could help you seek compensation to cover the costs of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions are in violation of this standard and cause birth defects or injuries, they can be held liable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's illness could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and don't respond appropriately. This can result in a variety of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or birth defects torn. Another form of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's an inflammation of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a free consultation to examine your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the root cause of a child's birth defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur due to medications. A number of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either 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 called teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a fetus through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different situations, such as processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against several companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium from coal that is contaminated can cause a variety of birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers also increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.