10 Things Everyone Hates About Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

The discovery that your child is suffering from a birth defect could turn what was supposed to be a joyous time into an uneasy and uncertain experience. It is imperative to contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

You will need to gather bills, receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses to receive full compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented families in lawsuits against big electronics companies and agricultural pesticide companies as well as commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or mistakes that occurred during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Some of these problems are more severe than others however, they can all be detrimental to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if the doctor committed an error that led to the injury or defect.

Doctors can identify some birth defects by performing screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpreted correctly to inform parents of the possibility that their child might have a birth deformity. This information may enable them to decide to terminate the pregnancy, or at the very least prepare for the birth of the child and treatment. If the doctor is unable to take or interpret the results of these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical malpractice.

Medical treatments for birth defect are typically expensive. They can involve surgeries, specialists, medications for speech and physical therapy, as well as assistive devices. The money awarded in a lawsuit for wrongful birth can help to ease the financial burden due to these expenses making it easier for families to access the care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. Therefore, it's important to find a reputable attorney as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite the advancements in medical science and advances in technology birth injuries and defects are possible. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries are often lifelong medical attention. In some cases they can even cause death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can assist parents to recover compensation to cover their child's medical expenses for the moment and future, including hospitalizations, doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and more.

When a physician prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the likelihood of her child having a birth defect, they could be guilty of medical malpractice. They must know what medications can affect the development of the fetus, and not prescribe drugs that are harmful to the fetus.

Teratogens are prescription medication that increase the risk of having a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medicines like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has warned against using these medications during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of cleft lips and cleft palates as well as heart, lung and brain abnormalities. They can also cause miscarriage for women who are pregnant, or nursing. Parents can sue doctors, the manufacturers of the medications and the pharmacists who dispensed the medications for failing to warn about the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

Parents often ask why their child was born with a birth deformity. However, a number of different factors can lead to birth defects, from drug-related side effects to exposure to toxic chemicals during utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These issues may be mild or severe, and sometimes even life-threatening. Most often, a birth defect occurs as a result of faulty genetics. However, a significant portion of birth problems are the result of environmental or chemical exposure that takes place during the womb. These chemicals are known as teratogens, and they increase the likelihood of irreversible functional or structural defects in offspring.

There is a wide range of industrial chemicals that have been linked to birth defects and other reproductive harm, and many people across the country are exposed them each day. The list of chemical hazards that may be harmful is extensive, ranging from semiconductor and technology factories that have clean rooms, to pesticides that are used on nurseries and farms as well as automobile, paint, plastics and paint manufacturing facilities.

It's not common for companies to fail to warn their customers about the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families to fight large corporations who put profits ahead of the health and safety of their workers and children.

Environmental Exposure

Parents can be extremely distressed due to a birth defect in a child, as they will need to provide medical care throughout the life of their child. Certain birth defects can result in physical and mental disabilities in the infant, depending on the severity.

While certain birth defects are inevitable because of genetics, others can be caused through exposure to chemicals or environmental factors during pregnancy. These include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that can be ingested by mothers or from chemical substances that have caused contamination of the groundwater or air in the community.

Birth defect lawsuits aren't only limited to medical malpractice. They can also be brought against individuals or businesses who are responsible for the injury of the child. For instance, if a physician prescribes a medicine that increases the likelihood of the birth defect of your child and they are found to be responsible.

The same applies to those or companies that expose employees to hazardous chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have proven that exposure to pesticides, fungicides, lead, metals and paints could increase the chances of having a child with certain birth defects. This is why lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons, metal cleaning operations, semiconductor manufacturing facilities and paint factories due to their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. The development of a Web-based, integrated Birth Defects Surveillance System for New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.