Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other losses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing claim for compensation for the expenses of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complex, so you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held responsible 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 illness could be the result of an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and do not respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defect law firms defects in that they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. Injuries can include conditions such as Erb's palsy which develops when the nerves that power and control an infant's arms are stretched or damaged during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical bills. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer will provide a no-cost initial consultation to examine your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

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

It is the duty of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they may be held liable for negligence. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses resulting from the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to discover the cause of the birth defect to sue companies which expose mothers to teratogens during the time they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function, or can cause organs to be malformed. These chemicals are used in diverse settings like the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

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

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes the birth defect in their child could be due to medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the term used to describe these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking water 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), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers, which are used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chances of having birth defects.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a wide range of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, embryologists and occupational medicine experts.