The Most Prevalent Issues In Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing any expecting parent wants to be told is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during the fetal stage and could affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health professional can identify birth defects during pregnancy by using the prenatal test or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after your child's birth or later, when they begin to show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of many birth defects remains unknown. There are several factors which can increase the chances of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before the birth, having a relative with birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have a family background of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a child is contingent on the affected body part and how much is affected. The more severe the birth defect attorneys defect the more serious the problems.

The majority of birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal development. The chance of developing birth defects can be reduced by learning about your family's history of health issues and genes by speaking to a genetic counselor, and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural birth problems are those that alter how a particular part of the body appears or performs. They vary from the obvious such as cleft lips and cleft palate to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome problems. Genetic conditions that are passed down through the generations can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, for instance, the lack of folic acids, can cause neural tube defects that lead to the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning as it should.

Gather More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures that pregnant mothers is able to undergo in order to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is one example, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct examination. This test can reveal chromosomal modifications as well as other health conditions such as infections (such as rubella or Zika) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the fetus's blood, amniotic fluid and even the tissues of its umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to finding out the reason for birth defects. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and the impact it has on a child's life.

However, some birth defects can remain unnoticed until a child is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. This is because these conditions aren't easily detected until they are present, and can sometimes only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these cases the medical expert witness must be conversant with the technology and have the training necessary to recognize these flaws. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer should be able to identify the right expert for your case.

Employ a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a severe birth defect or suffers a severe birth injury, it can completely turn the world of a family upside down. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional challenges, often requiring the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science can pinpoint the causes of 30 percent of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, such as those present in prescription or over the counter medication that mothers take, the toxic chemicals at play in certain communities and in homes, or the contaminating air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her about any risks to the fetus. When they fail in this obligation, they can be held liable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to assess the safety and effectiveness of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a doctor negligently uses the equipment or fails to correctly calibrate the equipment, it could have grave consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It is crucial to contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In some states, you're allowed only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect one in 33 babies born every year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. These issues can be life-threatening, birth defects and they can cause permanent physical, cognitive and emotional problems. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during the birth defect lawyers and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic disorders (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic illnesses). However, in a majority of birth defects cases, the causes are unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easily identifiable and are easily diagnosed at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities are not as obvious and require specialized tests.

Researchers are trying to figure out what causes birth defects and how some of them can be prevented. For example smoking or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a history of family members that includes inherited genetic disorders may want to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to have a baby. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data about medical conditions that can be traced through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.