10 Quick Tips About Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a expecting parent would like to be told is that their child might have a birth deformity. These defects are caused by factors that occur during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

Prenatal testing and newborn screening can be used by a health professional to detect certain birth defects that can occur during pregnancy. However other birth defects can not be identified until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What Caused Your Child's Defect?

The root of the majority of birth defects is still unknown. However, there are a few things that can increase the risk of having a child born with a defect. Some of these include taking certain medications or drugs before becoming pregnant or having a family history of birth defects, or having certain medical conditions like rheumatic disease. Women with an established history of these diseases should talk to an expert in genetic counseling about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree of birth defect in a baby is dependent on the body part affected and how much is affected. The more severe the birth defect the more serious the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during fetal growth. You can lessen the risk of having a birth defect by consulting a genetic counselor as well as learning about the health background of your family, and talking with a geneticist.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way the body appears or performs. They can range from the visible, such as cleft lip and cleft palate to the invisible, such as metabolic disorders or chromosome disorders. Genetic diseases that are passed down from generation to generation are a type of structural birth defect while environmental factors, such as the absence of folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, which cause the spinal cord or brain not developing properly.

Find More Evidence Than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis can be one of them, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This procedure can reveal chromosomal defects, 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 essential in diagnosing the root of birth defect attorney defect. They can also determine the severity of a birth defect and its effect on the adult life of a child.

However certain birth defects could go undetected until a baby is born, or in rare instances, when an adult. These conditions aren't readily apparent when they occur and are usually only detected with equipment for diagnosing. In these cases, the medical expert witness must be conversant with the latest technologies and possess the knowledge and experience required to recognize these flaws. An experienced medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the most appropriate expert for your case.

Hire an attorney for Medical Malpractice

A child born with a serious defect or a serious birth injury can completely change the life of a family. These injuries can cause life-long physical and emotional problems that often require the need for a lifetime of medical treatment.

Medical science may explain around 30 percent of birth defects, but many others are still unsolved. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances, such as those found in prescription or over the counter medication taken by mothers, toxic chemicals in communities and homes, or contaminated groundwater and air, can cause birth defects.

Doctors are required to evaluate the mother's current medications, and advise her about any dangers to the baby. If they fail to perform this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors are also required to evaluate the safety of any procedure or equipment they recommend for pregnant women. This includes x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby's health should a doctor use the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This would be considered malpractice. It's important to contact a medical negligence lawyer immediately if this happens. In some states, you're given only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice therefore it's best to begin the process as soon as possible.

Begin by completing the first Step

Birth defects are the leading cause of infant death. They affect one in 33 babies each year. These conditions could be life-threatening, and they can cause long-term physical, mental and emotional difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases linked the causes of birth defects to the mother's exposures to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, environmental toxins, complications of motherhood, infections, the birth and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic diseases (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic diseases). However, in the majority of birth defect lawsuits defect cases, the causes are unknown.

Certain birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to see and can be identified at birth or within the first year of a child's life. Certain birth defects, like heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities require tests specific to determine the cause.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth Defect Law firms defects and how these can be avoided. Women who drink, smoke or use illegal drugs while pregnant increase their risk for having a child born with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to become pregnant. They should also fill out the March of Dimes family health history form to collect data about medical conditions that run in their families and provide it to their doctor or a genetic counselor.