Why Nobody Cares About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects can help you file for compensation to cover the costs of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, and you should seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and cause birth defects or injuries and/or death, they may be held liable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in lawsuits for birth defects can help you determine whether your child's health condition may be the result of an error made by a doctor during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This can lead to many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can result from ailments like Erb's palsy, firm which occurs when the nerves that power and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these could cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will offer a free consultation in order to review your case, and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the cause for the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are the result of the genetics of a mother's pregnancy but they can also happen due to medications. Certain common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially applicable in the early months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of deformities in the limbs and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's job is to consider the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This could include hospital fees as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the cause of birth defects, so that they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or lead to malformed organs. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various firms that were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects that the birth defect of their child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals can be dangerous to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium in contaminated coal, for example, can cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced attorneys at LK's firm for birth defects have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from many birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits often involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts as witnesses, like toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists embryologists and occupational medicine experts.