7 Simple Secrets To Totally Refreshing Your Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can cause a huge impact on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing an action to collect compensation for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, and you should seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. If a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause a birth defect or injury, they can be held liable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits will help you determine if your child's health condition may be due to an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be the cause of a birth injury when they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to distress of the fetus. This can result in a variety of serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or the birth. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy, where the nerves controlling the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both of these could result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may provide a free consultation to review your case, and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a profound effect on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs including certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked to an increase in chance of limb deformities, brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of the risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to the requirements of this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for current and future medical expenses related to the disability or injury, as well as loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include hospital costs medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring an action on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as teratogens because they affect the growth of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are present in a variety locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include the aliphatic hydrocarbons like trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several companies who were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe 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 believes that the birth defect of their child may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are known as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals may be dangerous to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium in contaminated coal for instance, may cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from various birth defects due to the wrongful exposure to chemicals or toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and Birth defect lawsuits epidemiologists.