You Can 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 defect attorneys this can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Therapy costs, medical bills and other losses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file a claim to recover reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. Doctors can be held liable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits for birth defects can help you determine whether your child's illness could have been caused by an error in medical care during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail identify fetal distress, or don't respond appropriately. This can cause various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or the birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or birth defect lawyer torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - an inflammation of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to look over your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents determine the reason for the child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of a mother's pregnancy but they can also happen due to medications. A variety of common medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs as well as certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's duty is to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive compensation for the future and present medical expenses associated with the disability or injury in addition to loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to identify the cause of the birth defect in order to sue companies that expose mothers to teratogens during the time they work or in their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the healthy development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to hold companies accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won significant settlements for families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination of medical negligence and birth defect lawyer environmental conditions. If a family suspects that a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens is the name given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals can be dangerous to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.