Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity it can have a devastating effect on the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects can help to file a claim for compensation to cover the costs of caring for your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous, so it is important to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits will help you determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This can cause a number of serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course for you and Birth Defect Lawyers your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the root of the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and other factors that occur during the mother's pregnancy but they can also happen due to medications. Many common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially true in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy drugs are among the most common. These medications have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to take into account the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for negligence. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not properly inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

An attorney for birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of life. This can include hospital costs as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit for families of children with congenital disabilities because from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women and drugs that can cause birth deformities. They are trained to identify what caused the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against the companies that expose mothers to teratogens when they are working or in their home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function, or can cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several companies that were involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from their environment They could cause serious birth defects. Teratogens is the name given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals can be dangerous to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a wide range of birth defects due to improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.