15 Up-And-Coming Trends About Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's not something that any expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's physical or mental health.

A medical professional is able to detect some birth defects in pregnancy through prenatal testing or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be detected until after your child is born or when they start to develop symptoms.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The reason for many birth defects remains unknown. However there are several things that can increase a woman's risk of having a baby born with a defect. These include using drugs or taking certain medications before pregnancy, having a family member with birth defects or certain medical conditions like rheumatic heart disease. Women who have an ancestral history of these disorders are advised to consult an expert in genetic counseling prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part that is affected and the extent to which it is affected. The more severe the birth defect, the more serious the issues.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the fetal development. The chance of developing birth defects can be decreased by educating yourself about your family's history with genes and health issues by speaking to a genetic counselor and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way a part of your body appears or functions. They may range from the visible like cleft lips and cleft palate, to the invisibly, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited can be a type of structural birth defects. Environmental factors, for instance, a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects that result in the development of the spinal cord or brain not functioning properly.

Gather More Evidence than You Think You Can.

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant mother is able to undergo in order to discover more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, which is when a healthcare professional collects an insignificant amount of fluid from the fetus to conduct testing. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies, as well other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor may also examine the blood of a fetus or amniotic fluid as well as the tissues of its umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are vital in diagnosing the root of birth defects. They can also determine the degree of a birth defect and its impact on a child's adult life.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born or, in rare instances, even as an adult. This is because the conditions aren't easily detected until they are present and often can only be identified with the use of diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it's crucial that the medical expert witness involved is well-versed in these technologies and has the proper experience to spot these issues. A seasoned medical malpractice attorney will be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a severe defect or severe birth injury can drastically alter the life of the family. These injuries can lead to lifelong physical and emotional issues and often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30% of birth defects others remain unexplained. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, including those present in prescription or over the counter medicines that mothers are prescribed, the toxic chemicals at working in some communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications and advise her about any risks for the baby. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held accountable for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any equipment or procedure they recommend to pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. This could cause serious harm for a newborn baby should a doctor use the equipment in a negligent manner or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered medical malpractice. When this happens it's crucial to contact a medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. In certain states, you only have one year to file a medical malpractice case, so the faster you start the process the better.

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birth defect law firms defects affect one of 33 babies born every year and are the most common cause of infant mortality. These issues can be life-threatening, and they can cause long-term physical, mental and emotional problems. Researchers have in a few instances identified the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, pregnancy and delivery and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease, PKU, or genetic diseases). But in about 70% of birth defects cases the cause is unknown.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and can be detected at birth or in the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities aren't as easily identifiable and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are working to understand what can cause birth defects and how these can be avoided. For example, women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with a family history that involves genetic disorders inherited from their parents may want to consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes family health history form to collect information about medical conditions that can be found in their families and provide it to their doctor or genetic counselor.