There s A Reason Why The Most Common Birth Defect Litigation Debate Could Be As Black And White As You Might Think

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect this can be devastating for you and your entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects could assist you seek compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. If a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and cause birth defects or injuries, they can be held responsible for 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 condition could be due to a medical error during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth defect lawsuit injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can result in various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered by something that happens during labor, pregnancy, or birth. Injuries can include conditions such as Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that power and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may be able help parents determine the root cause of a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and other factors that occur during the mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused because of medications. Many common medications have a significant impact on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of a pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications including certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not meet this standard of care they could be held accountable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately inform mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major Birth defects defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancies.

An attorney for birth defects can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This could include hospital fees physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a fetus through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals are found in many different settings, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies that were involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defect law firm defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. 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 lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water, and some of them are harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

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

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a range of birth defects due to the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.