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

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect attorneys defect this can have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover compensation for the cost of caring for your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and it is essential to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. Doctors can be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, birth, or labor. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both can result in lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to review your case, and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able help parents determine the reason behind the birth injury of a child. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy, they can also occur because of medications. Many common medications can have negative effects on the fetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications including certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to an increase in chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to consider the risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to meet this standard of care they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not properly warning mothers of the dangers that come with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects occurring in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the disability or injury, and also loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the reason for birth defects so they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as Teratogens because they interfere with the normal development of a the fetus via chemical changes that cause abnormal organs or block normal cell function. These chemicals can be used in a variety of environments, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

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

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental factors or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the name for these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water, and some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium in coal that has been contaminated can trigger numerous birth defects, as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from various birth defects as a result of wrongful toxic or chemical exposure at their workplace or home. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.