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 it could be devastating for your family and you. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could help you file for compensation for the cost of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, so you should consult a lawyer whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. If a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and cause birth defects or injuries, they can be held accountable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine whether your child's illness could be due to an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be responsible for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or respond adequately to fetal distress. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or birth. Injuries can include ailments like Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that power and control an infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a no-cost consultation to analyze your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to help parents determine the cause of the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and other factors that occur during the mother's pregnancy, they can also occur as a result of medications. A number of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most common. These drugs have been linked to an increase in risk of limb defects and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is a doctor's professional duty to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medication. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit for families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result due to the negligence of corporations who expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that can cause birth deformities. They are trained to determine the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called teratogens due to the fact that they affect the healthy development a embryo through chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects resulting from the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defect in their child could result from medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by 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. Some of these chemicals may be harmful to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents like benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with 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 display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects due to unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and Birth Defect Attorneys expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.