Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, and you should seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. When a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in birth defects or injuries or injury, they could be held accountable for damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be accountable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize or properly respond to distress in the fetus. This can result in numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy, or the birth defect lawsuits. Injuries can result from issues like Erb's syndrome which is caused when the nerves that power and control the infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is a swelling of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents determine the reason for a child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by the genetics of a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur because of medications. A variety of commonly used medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is especially true in the first three months of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and more. These drugs have been linked to an increase in chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not properly warning mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect attorney can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit on behalf of parents of children with congenital disabilities as a result due to the negligence of corporations who expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of birth defects, so that they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called teratogens, because they can affect the development of a healthy the fetus via chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several firms that were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements on behalf of 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 as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defect in their child could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment they could develop serious birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and a few are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated, for example, can cause birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects are also caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors, silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects resulting from wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.