It's The Evolution Of Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could help to file a claim for reimbursement for the expenses of taking care of your disabled children. Legal claims for birth defects can be a little tangled and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. When a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in a birth defect or injury and/or death, they may be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects can determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and don't respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy or birth. The causes of injuries include conditions like Erb's Palsy which develops when the nerves which energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or ruptured during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size 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 review your situation and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

An attorney for birth defect attorney defects may help parents determine the reason behind the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a significant effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and brain deformities, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is a doctor's professional duty to consider 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 adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their drugs. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families receive compensation for future and current medical expenses that result from the disability or injury and also loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital costs as well as doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other expenses as well assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify the root of the birth defect, so they can sue companies who expose mothers to teratogens during the time they work or at their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens because they affect the development of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety of settings including manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

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

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies that were involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf families whose children were born with severe defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defect attorneys defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the environment they could develop serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water and some can be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects and health issues. Certain birth defects are also caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a variety of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits typically require an extensive scientific analysis as well as expert witnesses, including toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.