Guide To Birth Defect Litigation: The Intermediate Guide Towards Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing an appeal to receive reimbursement for the costs of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects may be complex, so you should seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their babies. Doctors can be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects will help you determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could be liable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to diagnose or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This could lead to many serious problems like hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or the birth. Injury can include Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can provide a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able help parents determine the reason behind an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during a mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medication. Certain common medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is especially evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines such as certain antibiotics and many more. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and brain deformities, heart defects, and craniosynostosis.

It is the duty of a doctor to be aware of the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for not properly warning mothers about the risks associated with their products. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of living. This can include hospital, doctor's prescription, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the root of birth defects, so that they can bring a case against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are a few chemicals that can cause birth defects. They are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or lead to organs that are malformed. These chemicals are used in various settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

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 are found in our food, air and water Some of them could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For example, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from coal that is contaminated can cause various birth defects, as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, which are employed in the manufacturing of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of developing birth defects.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed numerous lawsuits in the name of children who suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at work or at home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.