15 Up-And-Coming Birth Defect Litigation Bloggers You Need To Keep An Eye On

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it can be devastating for your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects could assist to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. Doctors can be held liable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits for birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be responsible for an injury that occurs during birth if they fail in diagnosing or properly respond to distress in the fetus. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by events during pregnancy, birth, or labor. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another injury is the caput succedaneum, swelling of the scalp. Both of these can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to examine your case and determine the most appropriate option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able help parents determine the reason behind a child's birth injury. Many birth defects are caused by the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications such as certain antibiotics and many more. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to consider these risks when prescribing medicines for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers associated with their products. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for current and future medical expenses related to the disability or injury, and also loss of income and quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's or pharmaceutical costs, in addition to aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies which expose pregnant women to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to find out the reason for the birth defect, so they can file a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens as they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the development of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety locations, such as semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against various firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families who have children who were born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause numerous birth defects and other health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects caused by the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.