What s The Job Market For Birth Defect Attorney Professionals Like

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing that any expecting parent would like to hear is that their child could have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Testing for prenatal and newborns can be used by a health professional to diagnose certain birth defects during pregnancy. However other birth defects might not be discovered until after the birth of your child or when they start to develop symptoms.

What caused your child's deficiency?

Many birth defects remain undiscovered. However, there are a few factors that can increase a woman's risk of having a child born with defects. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, a history of having a family member that has a birth defect or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should consult a genetic counselor about their options prior to getting pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious issues or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and the extent of the body part affected. Usually, the more severe the defect is, the more severe the problem will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. You can lower the risk of a birth defect consulting with a genetic counsellor, learning about the health history of your family and speaking with geneticists.

Structural birth defects alter how a particular part of the body appears or performs. They can be obvious, such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, like chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Inherited genetic conditions are one kind of structural birth defect and environmental factors like an absence of folic acids can lead to neural tube defects, which cause spinal cord or the brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence than You Think

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

A doctor can also examine the fetus's blood or amniotic fluid as well as the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also help determine the severity of a birth defect and its impact on the adult life of a child.

Certain birth defects might not be discovered until after the birth of a baby or, in some rare cases even as an adult. This is because the problems are not easily identified until they have been identified, and may only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these instances the medical expert witness must be familiar with the techniques and the necessary training to be able identify these defects. A medical malpractice lawyer with years of experience will be able to determine the most appropriate specialist for your case.

Find an attorney for Medical Malpractice

If a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers from a severe birth injury, it can completely turn a family's world upside down. These injuries can cause lifelong physical and mental challenges and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.

While medical science is able to pinpoint the root causes of around 30 percent of birth defect lawsuits defects others remain unsolved. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over the counter medication taken by mothers or children, harmful chemicals in homes and communities or in groundwater that has been contaminated with air may cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to examine a pregnant mother's current medications and inform her of any possible dangers for the baby. If they fail to meet this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects caused by medications.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment it could result in grave consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it is important to speak with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In certain states, you're only given a single year to file a medical negligence case, so the earlier you begin the process, the better.

Take the First Step

Birth defects are the leading reason for infant deaths. They affect one in 33 babies every year. These issues can be life-threatening and they can cause lasting physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. In some instances, scientists have connected the causes to mother's exposure to prescription or over-the counter medications, toxins found in the environment, maternal infections, complications of pregnancy and delivery or a medical history of the family (like genetic illnesses such as sickle cell disease, PKU). In around 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects are easily detectable and can be identified at birth or in the first year of life. Some birth defects, such as heart defects, intellectual and developmental disabilities, require tests specific to detect.

Researchers are trying to discover what can cause birth defects and birth defect how some of they can be prevented. Women who smoke, drink or consume illegal substances while pregnant are at greater risk of having a child born with certain defects. Women who have a family history of inherited genetic disorders should think about seeing a genetic counselor prior to trying to become pregnant. They could also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect information regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.