15 Astonishing Facts About Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you discover that your child was born with a birth defect, what could have been a thrilling time can quickly become one filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Contact an attorney for medical malpractice and a birth defect lawyer as soon a time as is feasible.

To get the full amount of compensation you deserve, you'll be required to keep track of all your receipts, bills as well as credit card payments. We have successfully represented families in cases against large electronics companies, agricultural pesticide manufacturers and commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Many birth defects are caused by medical mistakes or malpractice that occurred during the pregnancy. Some of these problems are more serious than others but they can all be detrimental to the child and loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if the doctor knowingly made an error that led to the defect or injury.

Certain birth defects can be capable of being detected through screening tests that doctors carry out during pregnancy. These tests can be done and interpreted correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child could have a birth defect. This information can help them decide if they want to end the pregnancy or prepare for the Birth Defect Lawsuit and treatment of the child. Medical malpractice can be committed in the event that a doctor fails to interpret or carry out these tests, or failing to inform parents of the results.

Medical treatments for birth defect can be costly. They may require surgery, specialists, medications for speech and physical therapy, and assistive devices. A lawsuit based on wrongful birth can aid in easing the cost of these expenses. This will enable families to provide the medical care their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to seek out an experienced attorney early enough.

Prescription Drugs

While modern technology and recent developments in the medical field have drastically reduced the chance of birth defects and injuries but they are still a possibility. Birth defects and injuries can be severe or mild, and they often require life-long medical care. In some cases they can even lead to death. A Boston lawyer for dangerous drugs can assist parents to recover compensation to cover their child's medical expenses in the present and in the future, such as hospitalizations and doctor's appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, and more.

If a doctor prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the chances of her child's developing a birth defect, they could be guilty of medical malpractice. They must be aware of which medications may negatively affect fetal growth and not recommend harmful substances to the embryo.

Teratogens are prescription medication which increase the likelihood of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medications like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued a warning against the use of these medications during pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk of having Cleft palates, cleft lips and heart, lung and other brain disorders. These drugs also carry a possibility of miscarriage among women who are pregnant or nursing. Parents may be able to sue doctors, drug companies and pharmacists for failing warn of the dangers.

Toxic Chemicals

When a baby is born with a birth defect, the parents often wonder what was the cause. However, several factors can trigger a birth defect, from the effects of medications to exposure to toxic chemicals in utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 33 babies are born with a birth deformity. These ailments can be anything from minor to severe and even life-threatening. Most often, a birth defect is the result of genetic defects. However, a significant portion of birth defects are caused by environmental or chemical exposure that occurs in the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. They increase the chance of irreversible functional or structural problems in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every single day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is long, covering semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides that are used in nurseries and farms, and plastics, paint, automobiles, and paint manufacturing facilities.

Most of the time, the companies that manufacture these chemicals don't properly test them for their potential human-related effects, and it's not uncommon for them to fail to include adequate warnings in their products and services. The team of birth defect attorneys at LK can assist families to fight against corporations that put profits before the health and safety of their employees and their children.

Environmental Exposure

Being a parent of a child who has an anomaly in the birth process can be incredibly distressing for parents, as it will require medical treatment throughout the life of their child. Depending on the severity of the condition, some birth defects can result in lifelong physical and mental impairments for the infant.

While some birth defects are unavoidable because of genetics, others can be caused due to exposure to chemicals or the environment during pregnancy. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that can be consumed by the mother or from chemicals that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in the community.

In addition to medical malpractice birth defect lawsuits can also be filed against companies or individuals that are liable for the injuries suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases the chance of having a birth defect then they could be held accountable.

It is also true for people or businesses who expose their employees to harmful chemicals and substances. Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposure to fungicides, pesticides in combination with lead, metals, and paints can increase the likelihood of having a child with certain types of birth defects. Because of this, lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories due to their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based Integrated Birth Defects Surveillance in New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. Hwang, S.-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.