What s The Current Job Market For Birth Defect Attorney Professionals Like

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Prenatal screening and newborn screening can be used by a healthcare professional to determine the presence of certain birth defects during pregnancy. Other birth defects can only be detected following your child's birth or when symptoms start to show.

What is the cause of your child's deformity?

The cause of many birth defects is not known. There are some things which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. Some of these include taking drugs or certain medications before becoming pregnant, having an ancestral history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions such as rheumatic disease. Women who have a family history of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counsellor before getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the affected body part and how severe the damage. Typically, the more severe the defect then the more severe the issues will be.

The majority of birth defect law firms defects are caused either by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can reduce your risk of developing a birth defect by consulting with a genetic counsellor and learning about the health history of your family, and meeting with an expert in genetics.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how an area of your body appears or performs. They can be visible, like cleft lips or cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations are one kind of structural birth defect and environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can cause neural tube defects that can result in the spinal cord or the brain not developing correctly.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to discover more about a potential birth defect. One of these is amniocentesis which involves a healthcare provider taking a small sample of the fetal fluid to be tested. This test can reveal chromosomal changes as well as other health issues such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can test the blood, amniotic liquid and fetus's tissues for indications of a birth defect. These tests are essential to finding out the cause of birth defect. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's adult life.

However certain birth defects may be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, an adult. These conditions are not detectable when they first appear and are often only discovered by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness must be familiar with the latest technologies and possess the education required to be able identify these defects. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the right expert for your particular case.

Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional issues which often require a lifetime of medical care.

Although medical science has been able to identify the causes of 30% of birth defects others remain a mystery. Research has shown certain chemicals and substances such as those in prescription or over-the-counter medication taken by mothers and toxic chemicals found in communities and homes or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to assess the medications taken by a pregnant mother and inform her of any possible dangers to the fetus. If they fail to perform this obligation, they can be held liable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors also have a responsibility to determine the safety of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments, Birth defect and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment, or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens it is important to seek out a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice and it's recommended to begin the process as soon as you can.

Step 1. Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born every year and are a leading cause of infant death. These conditions are life-threatening and result in a variety of long-term physical, emotional and cognitive problems. In some instances, researchers have identified the cause to be a mother's exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications, toxins found in the environment and maternal infections, the complications of pregnancy and delivery, or medical history in the family (like genetic illnesses like sickle cell diseases or PKU). However, in a majority of all birth defects the causes are not clear.

Certain birth defects are easily noticeable and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of life. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require special tests to detect.

Researchers are trying to discover the causes of birth defects and how they can be avoided. For instance smoking, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of genetic disorders that are inherited may want to consult with a genetic counselor prior to trying to have a baby. They should also use the March of Dimes family health record form to gather information about medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.