Do Not Forget Birth Defect Litigation: 10 Reasons Why You Don t Need It

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity it can have a devastating effect on your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects may be able to help to file a claim for compensation for the cost of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, so you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. Doctors can be held accountable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits can determine the cause of your child's illness. caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be responsible for an injury to the fetus if they fail to diagnose or appropriately respond to distress of the fetus. This can result in a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup, while injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. The causes of injuries include conditions such as Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves that power and control the arms of an infant are stretched or ruptured during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these could lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a no-cost consultation to review your case, and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able help parents determine the cause for a child's birth defect. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain commonly used medications can have negative effects on foetuses. This is particularly applicable in the early months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly inform mothers of the risks that come with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This could include hospital fees as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to identify the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are metals, Birth defect lawyers fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus by producing chemical changes that block normal cell function, or can cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are found in many different locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes the birth defect of their child may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated may cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make 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 who suffer 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 involve complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists embryologists and occupational medicine experts.