15 Reasons You Shouldn t Overlook Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

The discovery that your child is suffering from an anomaly in their birth can turn what should have been an exciting time into a stressful and uncertain one. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

You'll need to gather bills receipts, receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to get full compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented families in claims against major electronics companies, agricultural pesticide makers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or mistakes that occurred during pregnancy are responsible for numerous birth defects. Some of these issues are more severe than others, but they can be all detrimental to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if the doctor committed an error that led to the injury or defect.

Doctors can identify birth defects through screening tests during pregnancy. When these tests are carried out and properly, parents can be informed of the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information may let them decide to terminate the pregnancy or at the very least plan for the birth of the child and treatment. Medical malpractice can be committed in the event that a doctor fails to interpret or perform these tests, or failing to inform parents of the results.

Medical treatments for birth defects are usually expensive. These treatments can include surgeries, specialists, medication, physical and speech therapies and assistive equipment. The amount of compensation awarded by a wrongful birth lawsuit could help to ease the financial burden that is caused by these expenses, making it easier for families to access the care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to seek out an experienced attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Although modern technology and recent advances in the field of medicine have greatly reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects, they are still possible. Birth injuries and birth defects could be serious or minor and, in most cases, require life-long medical care. In some instances they may even cause death. A Boston dangerous drugs lawyer will help parents obtain compensation to cover medical expenses in the present and in the future, including hospitalizations, doctor's appointments rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and more.

If a doctor prescribes medication to a pregnant mother that increases the chances of her child having a birth defect, they might be guilty of medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to know which medications can negatively impact the growth of a fetus, and not prescribe drugs harmful to the baby's fetus.

Prescription medicines that increase the risk of a birth defect are referred to as teratogens. They include anti-seizure drugs like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings against the use of these drugs in pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, and Birth Defect Lawyers brain, lung and heart abnormalities. These medications also pose a chance of miscarriage in women who are breastfeeding or pregnant. Parents can sue the doctors, manufacturers of the drugs and the pharmacists who dispensed the medications for failing to warn about the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often wonder why their child was born with a birth deformity. The truth is that many different factors can lead to birth defects, ranging from the effects of medications or exposure to toxic chemicals in utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These birth defects may be mild or severe and can be life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect occurs as a result of genetic defects. However, a substantial portion of birth problems are the result of environmental or chemical exposure that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens and they increase the risk of structural or functional abnormalities that are not reverseable in offspring.

There's a vast array of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harm, and many people across the country are exposed to these chemicals every day. From semiconductor factories and technology with clean rooms to pesticides on farms and nurseries, and automobile, plastics and paint manufacturing plants the list of harmful chemicals is long.

A lot of the time, the corporations that produce these chemicals don't properly test them for possible effects on humans and it's not uncommon for them to not include adequate warnings on their products or services. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families in fighting big corporations that put profits before the health and safety their employees and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely disturbed by a child's birth defect because they will need to provide medical attention throughout the life of their infant. Certain birth defects can lead to mental and physical disabilities for the infant for the rest of their lives dependent on the severity.

While some birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics, many others can be caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs as well as toxic chemicals that the mother can ingest or chemical substances that have contaminated air or groundwater.

In addition to medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can be filed against individuals or businesses who are responsible for the injuries suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases the risk of birth defect, they could be held accountable.

This is also the case for individuals or businesses who expose their workers to harmful chemicals and substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to pesticides, fungicides and lead, as well as metals and paints can increase the likelihood of having a child who has certain types of birth defects. For this reason, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities as well as paint factories for their involvement in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.