The Ultimate Guide To Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you discover that your child is born with a birth defect what could have been an exciting time could quickly become one of anxiety and uncertainty. Contact a medical malpractice lawyer and birth defect Lawsuits birth defect lawyer as soon as is possible.

You will need to gather bills and receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses in order to be able to claim full reimbursement for your losses. We have successfully represented family members in claims against large electronics companies, producers of agricultural pesticides and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are the result of medical errors or negligence that occurred during pregnancy. Some of these issues are more serious than others however they can all be devastating to the child and loved ones. An attorney for medical malpractice can assist in determining if the doctor erred which led to the defect or injury.

Certain birth defects can be capable of being detected through screening tests that doctors perform during pregnancy. If these tests are done and interpret them correctly, parents will be aware of the risk of their child developing a birth defect. This information will allow them to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the doctor is unable to conduct or interpret these tests, or if they fail to inform parents of the results, this may be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defects can be costly. They can involve surgery, specialists, medications for speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. A wrongful birth lawsuit may help alleviate the burden of these costs. This will enable families to provide the support their child needs. Medical malpractice claims are often complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it is important to seek out an experienced attorney early enough.

Prescription Drugs

While modern technology and recent advancements in the medical field have drastically reduced the chance of birth injuries and defects however, they're still very likely. Birth injuries and birth defects can be severe or mild and, in most cases, require ongoing medical attention. In certain cases, they can even lead to death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents receive compensation for their child's present and future medical expenses, including procedures in the hospital as well as doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and many more.

When a physician prescribes a medication to an expectant mother that increases the chance of her child's having a birth defect, they could be guilty of medical malpractice. They must be aware of what medications affect fetal development and not prescribe drugs that could be harmful to the embryo.

Teratogens are prescription medicines which increase the likelihood of having a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medicines such as Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings regarding the use of these drugs in pregnancy. They could increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates as well as the brain, heart and lung abnormalities. These drugs also pose a risk of miscarriage in women who are breastfeeding or pregnant. Parents may sue doctors, the manufacturers of the medications and the pharmacists who gave them for failing to warn about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

When a child is born with a birth defect parents often wonder what caused it. The truth is that a number of different factors can lead to a birth defect, from the effects of medications to exposure to toxic chemicals during the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These ailments can vary from minor to serious and can even be life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect is the result of genetic defects. Birth defects can be caused by chemical or environmental exposure in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens. They increase the risk of irreversible functional or structural defects in offspring.

There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been linked to birth defects and other reproductive harms and millions of people across the country are exposed them every day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories equipped with clean rooms, to pesticides used in nurseries and farms, as well as plastics, paint, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities.

It's not uncommon for companies to fail to inform their customers of the potential dangers of these chemicals. The team of birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families in fighting back against large corporations that put profits over the safety and health of their employees and their children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely distressed by a child's birth defect due to the fact that they will have to provide medical assistance throughout the life of their child. Some birth defects can lead to physical and mental disabilities in the infant for the rest of their lives depending on the degree of the defect.

While some birth defect lawsuits defects are unavoidable due to genetics. Many others can be triggered due to exposure to chemicals or the environment during pregnancy. This includes prescription drugs as well as toxic chemicals that the mother might ingest, or chemical substances that have contaminated groundwater or air.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits are brought against businesses or individuals who are responsible for the injury suffered by the child. If a physician prescribes a medication that increases your child's risk of birth defect, they could be held accountable.

The same goes for companies or individuals who expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposures to pesticides or fungicides as well as metals, paints, and lead can increase the risk of children developing certain types of birth defect. In order to tackle this issue the courts have filed lawsuits against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. Development of a web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance System in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.