5 Killer Quora Answers On Birth Defect Attorneys
Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
The discovery that your child is suffering from a birth defect can turn what should have been a joyous time into a stressful and unsure experience. Contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as possible.
You will need to gather bills and receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to receive full compensation for your losses. We have successfully represented families in lawsuits against major electronics companies as well as agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice or errors that occur during pregnancy can be the cause of numerous birth defects. Certain of these problems are more severe than others, however all birth defects or injuries can be devastating for the child and the family members who love them. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor's error that led to the defect or injury.
Doctors can identify birth defects by performing screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be performed and interpret correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information helps them decide if they want to end the pregnancy or prepare for the birth and treatment of the child. If the doctor is unable to perform or interpret these tests or fails to inform parents of the results, it could be considered medical malpractice.
Medical treatments for birth defects are usually expensive. They can require surgeries, specialists, medications for speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. The money awarded in a wrongful birth lawsuit could help ease the financial burden related to these costs which will allow families to receive the treatment their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to get a skilled attorney immediately.
Prescription Drugs
Although modern technology and recent developments in the field of medicine have greatly reduced the risk of birth injuries and defects however, they're still a possibility. Birth defects that are severe or mild and injuries are often lifelong medical attention. In some instances they may even cause death. A Boston dangerous drugs lawyer will help parents obtain compensation to cover medical expenses for the moment and in the future, such as hospitalizations, doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and more.
A physician could be committing medical malpractice if they prescribe a medication to a pregnant woman that increases the chance of her child being born with a birth defect. They have a responsibility to be aware of the medications that can affect the development of the fetus, and not prescribe drugs that are harmful to the embryo.
Teratogens are prescription medication which increase the likelihood of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure drugs such as Dilantin and Tegretol. The FDA has warned against the use of these medications during pregnancy. They could increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as heart, lung and brain abnormalities. They also increase the risk of miscarriage in women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents can sue doctors, drug manufacturers and pharmacists for failing to warn of the dangers.
Toxic Chemicals
Parents often ask the reason their child was born with a birth defect. Birth defects can be caused by a range of factors, such as medication side effects and toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These problems can vary from minor to serious and can even be life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect is an unfortunate genetic defect that occurs without fault of the mother. However, a substantial portion of birth problems are the result exposure to chemicals or other environmental factors that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens and increase the risk of irreparable structural or functional abnormalities in offspring.
There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been associated with birth defects and other reproductive harms and millions of people across the country are exposed them each day. The list of potentially harmful chemicals is long, and includes everything from semiconductor and technology manufacturing facilities with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on nurseries and farms as well as plastics, paint, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities.
Most times, companies that make these chemicals fail to properly test them for their potential human-related effects, and it's not uncommon to see them fail to include adequate warnings in their products and services. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families to fight large corporations that put profit before the safety and health of their workers and 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 treatment for the entire life of their infant. Based on the severity of the condition, some birth defects can lead to lifelong mental and physical disabilities for the infant.
While certain birth defects are inevitable because of genetics, others are caused due to exposure to chemicals or the environment during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that could be ingested by mothers, or even from chemicals that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in the community.
In addition to medical malpractice birth defect lawsuits are filed against businesses or individuals who are accountable for the injuries suffered by the child. For instance, if a doctor prescribes a drug that increases the likelihood of the birth defect of your child and they are held accountable.
The same is true for companies or individuals who expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to fungicides, pesticides, lead, metals and paints may increase the risk of having a child who has certain birth defects. This is why lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities as well as paint factories due to their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.