9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Birth Defect Lawyer

A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice

A child's birth defect can change the course of your family's life. If a medical professional has committed negligence during your pregnancy, which led to your child's condition you should take action immediately.

An experienced lawyer for birth injuries can help you file a claim against the parties responsible. In the meantime, start collecting bills, receipts, and statements from credit cards.

The causes of birth defects

Birth defects can have a variety of causes. But some are caused by genetic disorders, where genes aren't functioning properly, or are missing completely (like Turner syndrome and Down syndrome). They can also be the result of chromosomal disorders, in which one or more chromosomes contain more or too few cells.

These problems are usually diagnosed in utero by ultrasound or amniocentesis. A sample of amniotic fluid is taken and tested to identify chromosomal abnormalities and genetic changes. In some cases doctors may not be able to identify the birth defect until the child is born or has symptoms, like having an extra finger, cleft lip or club foot.

Birth defects can be caused by issues in the nervous system, brain or musculoskeletal system. These issues affect the joints, muscles and bones. They can be moderate to severe and affect how a person appears or performs, such as physical strength, learning capabilities and mobility.

Some birth defect attorney defects are unavoidable, but others are preventable. Couples who have an ancestor with certain genetic conditions should consider the possibility of genetic testing prior to trying for a baby. Avoiding exposure to certain drugs and chemicals and infections and other environmental factors, can also reduce the chance of developing birth defects. Medical malpractice or negligence in the treatment of a woman who is pregnant can also contribute to birth defects, so it's important to speak with a birth defect lawyer if you believe an error in medical care could have contributed to the child's condition.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects cases that involve medical negligence are typically complex and require expert testimony. A compassionate and skilled medical malpractice lawyer can assist your family get justice and get the compensation you need to ensure your child is able to lead a normal life.

Your lawyer will identify the birth defect that your child has and link it to the medical professionals involved in its delivery. Your attorney will also need be aware of the date the date at which the birth defect of your child was discovered. This is crucial because it will help you determine how long you have to submit a claim prior to the statute of limitations expires.

Your attorney should have access to any documents you might have regarding the birth defect of your child, like bills, receipts as well as credit card payments. This evidence will assist your attorney in proving the severity of your child's injuries and determine the types of compensation you are entitled to.

Birth defects can be caused through a variety of factors, including genetic conditions and medications, or exposure to illnesses and infections. The vast majority of birth defect are not the result of negligence or medical malpractice. Only when a doctor is unable to fulfill his or his or her duty of care and this results in an injury to a baby can medical malpractice claims be justified.

Drugs

Birth defects are atypical conditions that appear in a baby's body at birth or during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control explains that these birth defects can affect any part of the body of the baby and range from mild to life risky.

These ailments are usually caused by the mother's lifestyle or genetics. However, in other instances medical negligence could be to blame for the child's condition. A Hyattsville birth defects lawyer can assist parents to determine the root of their child's illness, and take legal actions.

Drugs have the potential to cause serious birth defects in the fetus. These substances, also known as teratogens, include both prescription drugs as well as illegal street drugs. Thalidomide for instance, was once a popular sleep aid and anti-nausea medication for pregnant women, but it turned out to be one of the most devastating birth defects resulting from drugs in the history of medicine. It led to limb reduction defects and other physical and mental impairments.

Doctors are required to consider the potential risks associated with certain medications when prescribing them to pregnant women. If they fail to do this they are guilty of malpractice. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists have an obligation to warn women of the potential risk of taking their medications.

Toxic Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the uterus. These substances can be present in the medicines a pregnant woman takes as well as in the environmental pollutants in the home or at work or in harmful chemicals in a workplace. These chemicals, also referred to as teratogens, may cause serious birth defects such as spina bifida. They may also trigger problems with development, skeletal abnormalities in the brain, as well as muscular dystrophy.

Certain toxic substances like arsenic or birth defect cadmium may be present in drinking water and soil. Lead is a well-known contaminant that can be found in home paint, art supplies and plastics, as well as cosmetics, and many other products. Other toxins include pharmaceuticals including selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been shown to increase the risk of birth defects.

A lawyer who specializes in birth defect cases can assist parents to determine if chemicals or drugs were the proximate cause of their child's birth defect. In these cases, our lawyers may file a claim for product liability against a chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturer who has developed and manufactured an unsafe chemical or medication. We may also bring a lawsuit against doctors who prescribe drugs believed to cause adverse side effects for pregnant women.