What NOT To Do Within The Birth Defect Attorney Industry

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child may have a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by factors that occur during the development of the fetus and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A health professional can detect birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be diagnosed until after the birth of your child or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The cause of many birth defects remains unknown. There are certain factors that increase the chance of the mother having a child with a birth defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an history of these conditions should talk to an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect can cause serious health issues or not is contingent upon the body part that is affected and how much of the body part is affected. The more severe the defect is it, the more serious the problems will be.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. The risk of having birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health issues and genes, talking to an expert on genetics and following the prenatal care guidelines.

Structural defects are birth imperfections that affect how the body appears or performs. They can range from visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, like chromosome disorders or metabolic conditions. Inherited genetic conditions may be a sign of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that lead to brain or spinal cord development not working as intended.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are many medical procedures pregnant mothers can undergo to learn more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects small amounts of fluid from the fetus to conduct analysis. This procedure could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health issues like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also test the blood of a fetus amniotic fluid, fetal blood and the umbilical cord for indications of birth defects. These tests are essential to determining the cause of birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the effects it could have on a child in the years to come.

However, some birth defects can be unnoticed until the baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. These conditions are not detectable prior to their onset and are usually only detected by using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness in question is well-versed in these technologies and has the correct knowledge to spot these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the most suitable expert for your particular case.

Hire an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth defect law firm injury can drastically alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause long-lasting physical and emotional challenges that often require ongoing medical treatment.

While medical science can identify the causes of about 30 percent of birth defects [Read the Full Document] others remain a mystery. Research has shown that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, such as those found in prescription or over-the-counter medicines that mothers are prescribed and the harmful chemicals that working in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to review the pregnant mother's current medications, and advise her of any risks for birth defects the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors must also evaluate the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. If a doctor makes a mistake using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could lead to serious consequences for the baby. This is considered medical malpractice. It's important to contact a medical malpractice lawyer immediately should this happen. In certain states, you have only one year to file a case for medical malpractice, so it's best to begin the process as soon as you can.

Take the First Step

Birth defects affect 1 of 33 babies born each year, and birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality. These conditions can be life-threatening, and they can cause lasting physical, cognitive and emotional issues. Researchers have in a few instances connected the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs or environmental toxins, as well as maternal infections, complications during delivery and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, sickle cell disease, or other genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defect lawsuit defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easily identifiable and are easily diagnosed at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities, are not as easily identifiable and require tests that are specific to the condition.

Researchers are trying to discover what can cause birth defects and how some of them may be prevented. For example women who smoke or drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chances of having a child with certain birth defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counsellor before trying to conceive. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that are prevalent in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.