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Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and five minutes, one baby in the United States is born with an anomaly in the birth process. These defects can have a lifelong effect on the lives of the affected.

Variations in the way cases are identified and classified can result in the over- or under-ascertainment certain types of birth defects. A well-designed surveillance system uses active case ascertainment (including medical record abstraction and clinical review) in addition to passive reporting.

Causes

If the baby is born with a defect or injury it can cause serious health issues for the child's future. Birth defects are usually the result of an error in medicine or a mistake made by a doctor during pregnancy.

In certain cases, birth defects can be avoided through prenatal care and good nutrition. In other cases they could be caused by environmental factors like exposure to harmful chemicals or toxic substances. Birth defects may be the result of complications during pregnancy, such as constriction of the uterus or rupture of the amniotic fluid sac or a lack of oxygen to the foetus.

Some birth defects are caused by genetic disorders that are passed down through families. These can be diagnosed with a blood test or an ultrasound. Some of these illnesses can be prevented or treated by a doctor, for example PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. Some birth defects are not known to have a cause. They are called congenital disorders or congenital abnormalities.

Women over the age of 30 and women of certain ethnicities are at an increased chance of developing birth defects. Couples with a similar family history of genetic illness may consider seeing a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. This can help couples determine whether they require further tests. Screening tests for newborn babies can detect some conditions, such as critical congenital heart defects and certain infections, which can be treated right away.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that affects any part of the body and can affect the way organs work or the structure of the body. birth defect attorneys defects can be detected by a healthcare provider during the pregnancy process, at birth, or in early childhood. Some birth defects, like palates, lips or craniofacial defects, are obvious. Some, however, are less obvious, such as congenital cardiac disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct that carries the bile to the liver).

Many birth defects are diagnosed through newborn screening tests, that look for specific health issues. These include PKU as well as congenital hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also looks for certain genetic diseases like Down syndrome. A healthcare professional can detect some birth defects through ultrasounds during pregnancy as well as blood tests, birth Defect lawyer depending on the type of defect.

It is not always possible to determine the source of a birth defect. However, environmental factors are often involved. These include exposure to prescription or over the counter medications, chemical substances contaminating air and water in communities, or birth Defect Lawyer complications that develop during pregnancy or the birth. Other times birth defects may be caused by a medical professional not taking the proper steps to stop or treat a recognizable medical disease. In these situations, a claim for medical malpractice might be filed.

Treatment

When a birth defect has been identified, the options for treatment differ based on the type and severity of the issue. Some birth defects can be fixed before the baby is born. Others might require surgery or medical intervention following the birth of the baby.

Some of the most common defects are chromosomal. They are caused by missing or excess genes within cells of a person. These are usually inherited from the parents. Birth defects that are structural include things like cleft lip, neural tube defects and heart issues. These are usually caused by issues during the growth of the baby's organs and tissues, particularly during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects can be performed during pregnancy, after a child is born, or later in life when symptoms start to appear. These tests can be conducted through ultrasounds and blood tests. A person can have a genetic test for birth defects to determine if they are predisposed to a specific condition.

It's not always easy to prevent birth defects. Some are due to complications that happen during the pregnancy of a woman, while others can be traced back to specific environmental factors. The use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy can result in birth defects. Some birth defects are related to chemicals that are present in the natural environment, including herbicides and pesticides, such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite the recent advances in medicine, birth defects and injuries are still a devastating reality. Fortunately most birth defects are preventable. If you have a child who has an issue with their birth that could be the result of the negligence of medical professionals, it's important to talk to an expert lawyer as soon as you can. A medical malpractice lawyer who is compassionate and knowledgeable will help you understand the legal options available to you and help you seek compensation for your family's losses and expenses.

Our team of experienced birth defect lawyers has years of experience handling cases of birth defects that are not correct. Our firm is a plaintiff-only law practice, and we take pride on the excellent service we offer our clients. We'll take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your child and your family.

We can assist you in seeking compensation for any damages, including future and past medical expenses loss of income, damages for punitive in certain circumstances as well as emotional stress. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and work hard to ensure the most favorable outcome for your family.

Drug makers are required to thoroughly test their products before releasing them on the market, and to inform consumers of possible adverse reactions. However, if your child's birth defect was due to a pharmaceutical drug you could start a lawsuit based on product liability with the assistance of a birth defect lawyer for drugs.