What s The Most Common Birth Defect Litigation Debate Actually Isn t As Black And White As You Might Think

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing claim for reimbursement for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, and you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor are not in line with this standard and cause birth defect or injury and/or death, they may be held accountable for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine whether your child's health condition may have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor could also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or adequately respond to distress of the fetus. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy, or birth. Injuries can result from conditions such as Erb's palsy, which occurs when the nerves that power and control the arms of an infant are stretched or damaged during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the cause of a child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur as a result of medications. A number of commonly used medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and brain deformities, heart defects and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to meet the standards of care required, they could be held accountable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the disability or injury, and also loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover the root of the birth defect, so they can bring a lawsuit against the companies who expose mothers to teratogens during the time they are working or in their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called teratogens due to the fact that they affect the healthy development a foetus by causing chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals are found in many different settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed 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 these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who had their children born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should contact an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water, and some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and 133.6.219.42 other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are recognized to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a myriad of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complicated scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.