What To Focus On When Making Improvements To Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could help you seek compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled and it is essential to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their babies. If the actions of a doctor are not in line with this standard and result in a birth defect or injury, they can be held responsible for injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects will help you determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This can cause a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth Defect attorney birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy, or birth. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can cause permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to help parents determine the root of a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medications. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotics, and many more. These drugs have been linked to an increase in risk of limb deformities and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's duty is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the requirements of this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly inform mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This can include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue families of children with congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women to chemicals and other drugs that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to identify the root of the birth defect, so they can sue companies who expose mothers to teratogens as they are at work or in their homes.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens because they affect the development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or create organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals can be used in a variety of locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies that were involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who had children born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water and some can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated may cause various birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, used in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are known to increase a woman's risk of birth defects as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects resulting from unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits typically require complex scientific analysis and experts, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.