Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity it can have a devastating effect on you and your entire family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file claim for compensation for the expenses of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complex, so you should seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. When a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and result in an injury or birth defect the doctor could be held liable for the injuries suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's condition may be due to an error in medical care during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be accountable for a birth injury when they fail to identify or properly respond to distress of the fetus. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or the birth. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both of these could lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in significant medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to look over your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defects may help parents determine the reason behind an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and other factors that occur during the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medication. A number of commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, birth defect attorney and chemotherapy medications are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the duty of a doctor to consider these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the risks that come with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major birth defect attorney defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family to obtain compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This could include hospital expenses, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses in addition to assistive devices, and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit for families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women to chemicals and medications that cause birth deformities. They are trained to determine the reason for birth defects, so that they can bring a case against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens because they affect the development of a healthy fetus through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals are used in a variety of environments, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe birth defects due to the toxic chemical exposures on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects a child's birth defects may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb contaminants from their environment, they can cause serious birth defects. Teratogens are the names given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water and cadmium in coal that has been contaminated can trigger various birth defects and health issues. Certain birth defects are related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers that are used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chances of having birth defects as well.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects as a result of improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.