5 Killer Quora Answers On Birth Defect Attorneys
Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer
When you discover that your child is born with a birth defect what should have been a thrilling time can quickly turn into a time of anxiety and uncertainty. It is imperative to contact a medical malpractice or birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.
You will need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments, and other evidence of your losses to be able to claim full settlement for your losses. We have successfully represented family members in lawsuits against large electronics firms, agricultural pesticide producers and commercial growers.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice or errors that occur during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Some of these issues 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 help determine if the doctor knowingly made an error that caused the defect or injury.
Certain birth defects are able to be detected by screening tests that doctors perform during pregnancy. These tests can be done and correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child could have a birth defect. This information will permit them to terminate the pregnancy, or at the very least plan for the birth of the child and treatment. If the physician fails to conduct or interpret these tests, or if they fail to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical negligence.
Birth defects and medical treatments are usually expensive. These treatments include surgeries, specialists, medication physical and speech therapies as well as assistive equipment. The compensation a wrongful birth lawsuit could aid in easing the financial burden that is caused by these expenses making it easier for families to access the care their child needs. Medical malpractice cases are complex and time-sensitive, hence it is crucial to find an experienced attorney as quickly as you can.
Prescription Drugs
Despite the advancements in medical science and the latest technology, birth problems and injuries are possible. Birth defects that are severe or mild and injuries typically require a lifetime of medical attention. In some instances they can cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents recover compensation for their child's present and future medical expenses, which include hospital procedures or doctor's office, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and more.
If a doctor prescribes medication to a pregnant mother that increases the likelihood of her child's developing a birth defect, they may be guilty of medical malpractice. They have a duty to be aware of the effects of medications on the development of the fetus, and not prescribe medications that are harmful to the baby's fetus.
Teratogens are prescription drugs that increase the risk of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medicines like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has warned against the use of these drugs during pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk for cleft lips, cleft palates and heart, lung and other brain disorders. These drugs also carry a possibility of miscarriage among women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Parents may be able to sue doctors, drug companies and pharmacists for failing to warn of the dangers.
Toxic Chemicals
Parents often wonder what caused their child to be born with a birth defect. Birth defects can be caused by a range of causes, such as adverse effects from medications as well as toxic chemical exposure during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect attorney defect. These issues can range from minor to major and even life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect occurs as a result of genetic defects. However, a large percentage of birth defects are caused by exposure to chemicals or environmental elements that happens in the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens, and they increase the risk of irreparable structural or functional abnormalities in offspring.
There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been linked to birth defects as well as other reproductive harms and millions of people across the world are exposed to them every day. From semiconductor factories and technology with clean rooms, to pesticides in nurseries and farms and Birth defect attorneys plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing facilities, the list of potentially harmful chemicals is extensive.
A lot of the time, the companies that make these chemicals don't adequately test them for their potential adverse effects on humans, and it's not uncommon for them to not include adequate warnings on their products or services. LK's birth defect attorneys can assist families in fighting large corporations that put profit over the safety and health of their employees and children.
Environmental Exposure
Being a parent of a child who has an anomaly in the birth process can be extremely stressful for parents, since it requires medical attention throughout the life of their child. Some birth defects can result in physical and mental disabilities in the child for life depending on the degree of the defect.
While certain birth defects are inevitable because of genetics, others can be caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These could include prescription medications or toxic chemicals which could be ingested by mothers or from chemicals that have caused contamination of the groundwater or air in a community.
Birth defect lawsuits aren't only restricted to medical negligence. They may also be filed against individuals or businesses that are responsible for the injuries of the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases the risk of developing a birth defect, then they could be held responsible.
The same goes for business owners or individuals who expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to pesticides, fungicides and lead, as well as metals and paints could increase the chances of having a child suffering from certain types of birth defects. In this regard, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities as well as paint factories for their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. The development of a Web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance System 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.