The 3 Biggest Disasters In Birth Defect Attorney History

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent would like to be told is that their child might have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be utilized by a doctor to determine the presence of certain birth defects during pregnancy. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What caused your child's asymmetry?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. However there are some things that can increase a woman's risk of having a baby with defects. One of them is taking certain medications or prescription drugs before becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women with an established history of these diseases should consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The extent to which a birth defect in a child causes serious problems or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more serious the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused through genetics or environmental factors during fetal growth. You can lower the risk of a birth defect consulting a genetic counselor and learning about the health background of your family and having a conversation with a geneticist.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how the body looks or functions. They may be visible, like cleft lips or cleft palettes, or invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions may be a sign of structural birth defects. Environmental causes, such as the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal cord or brain not working as intended.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of a birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis that involves a doctor taking a small sample of fetal fluid to test. This procedure can reveal chromosomal modifications as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic abnormalities.

A doctor may also examine the fetus's blood as well as amniotic fluid and the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are crucial to determining the cause of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's future.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare cases, as an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent prior to their onset and are usually only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is familiar with these technologies and has the appropriate training to be able to spot these issues. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the right expert for your particular case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or birth injury can drastically alter the life of a family. These injuries can create life-long physical and psychological challenges which often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects however, many other cases are still a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those present in prescription or over the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed or the toxic chemicals at work in some communities and homes, or in contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medication and inform her of any potential risks for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for Birth defect Law Firms defects that are caused by medication.

Doctors also have a duty to assess the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could have serious consequences for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens you should seek out a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In certain states, you are only allowed a single year to file a medical malpractice case, Birth defect Law Firms so the earlier you start the process the better.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born each year, and are the most common cause of infant death. These conditions can be life-threatening and cause long-term mental, emotional and physical challenges. In some cases, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications associated with pregnancy and birth, or medical history in the family (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). In the majority of cases, the reason is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily evident and can be found when a baby is born or in the first year. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as obvious and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying determine the cause of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For example smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with a defect. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are passed down through generations may wish to speak with a genetic counselor before trying to conceive. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information regarding medical conditions that run in their families and share it with their doctor or genetic counselor.