How To Explain Birth Defect Litigation To Your Mom

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth this can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, and you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If the actions of a doctor are in violation of this standard and cause an injury or birth defect, they can be held responsible for injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuit defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could have been caused by an error in medical care during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This could lead to various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can result from ailments like Erb's palsy, which occurs when the nerves that power and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents identify the root of the child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur due to medications. Many common medications have a profound effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

The duty of a doctor is to take into account these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not adequately inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in the first trimester of pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury, in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect attorneys defect lawyer may bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the root of the birth defects so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety environments, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals and/or environmental factors, they should talk to a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment they could develop serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water, and some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking water or birth defect Lawyers cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers that are employed in the manufacturing of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are known to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a variety of birth defects resulting from wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.