25 Surprising Facts About Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that happen during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A medical professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy by using newborn screening or prenatal tests. However, other birth defects may not be discovered until after the baby is born or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. However, there are a few factors that increase the likelihood of having a child with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to the birth, having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an established history of these diseases should consult an expert on genetic counseling about their options prior getting pregnant.

Whether a child's birth defect can cause serious health issues or not depends on the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect it, the more serious the issues will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. The chance of developing birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with health issues and genes or talking to an expert on genetics and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural birth defects alter how a specific part of the body appears or works. They can be visible, like cleft lips and cleft palettes. They can also be invisible, like chromosome issues or metabolic conditions. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations may be a sign of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures that pregnant mothers can undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects a small sample of fluid from the fetus for testing. This procedure can reveal chromosomal changes in addition to other health conditions like infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic disorders.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for signs of birth defect lawyers defects. These tests are crucial in finding out the cause of birth defects. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and birth defects its effect on a child's adult life.

However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. This is because the problems are not easily identified until they are present, and may only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these instances, the medical expert witness should be acquainted with the technology and have the training necessary to be able to spot these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer can help you identify the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Find an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of families. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional problems which often require a lifetime of medical care.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the causes of 30 percent of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has proven that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those found in prescription or over-the-counter medications a mother takes as well as the toxic chemicals that play in certain communities and in homes, or birth defects the contaminating air and groundwater.

Doctors are required to assess the medication used by the expecting mother and inform her of any potential risks for the embryo. If they fail in their duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could result in serious consequences for the baby. This is a case of malpractice. If this occurs it's crucial to seek out a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states, you're given only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice which is why it's important to start the process as soon as possible.

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Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year, and are a major reason for infant mortality. These issues are life-threatening, and can lead to lasting physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases linked the causes of birth defects due to exposure of the mother to prescription and over-the-counter drugs and environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy, family medical history, or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, or other genetic illnesses). However, in the majority of birth defects cases the causes are not clear.

Some birth defects, like clubfoot or hearing loss, are easy to see and can be detected either at birth or during the first year of a child's life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities are not as easy to identify and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what can cause birth defects and how some of these can be avoided. For instance smoking and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women who have a family history of inheritance genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.