5 Laws Everyone Working In Birth Defect Attorney Should Know

What Causes a Birth Defect?

The last thing a new parent wants to learn is that their child might have a birth defect. These defects are caused by factors that occur in the fetal period and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A doctor can identify birth defects during pregnancy using the prenatal test or newborn screening. Other birth defects may only be detected after the birth of your child, or after symptoms are evident.

What was the reason for your child's deformity?

The causes of many birth defects remains unknown. However, there are a few factors that increase the risk of having a child born with a defect. One of them is using certain medications or taking certain drugs prior to conception or having an ancestral history of birth defects or having medical conditions, such as rheumatic diseases. Women who have a family background of these disorders are advised to consult a genetic counselor prior to getting pregnant.

The severity of a birth defect in a child depends on the body part affected and the extent to which it is affected. Typically, the more severe the defect it, the more serious the issues will be.

The majority of birth defects are caused either by genes or environment during fetal development. The chance of developing a birth defect can be reduced by learning about your family's history of health issues and genes or talking to a genetic counselor, and following prenatal guidelines.

Structural defects are birth problems that affect the way a part of your body looks or performs. They can be obvious, like cleft lips, cleft palettes, or invisible, as with chromosome conditions or metabolic disorders. Genetic disorders that are inherited could be a form of birth defects that are structural. Environmental factors, for instance, a lack folic acid, can cause neural tube defects, which result in brain or spinal cord development not working as intended.

Get More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures that a pregnant woman can undergo to find out more about possible birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a doctor collects tiny amounts of fluid from the fetus for examination. This test can reveal chromosomal defects as well as other health conditions like infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can examine the blood, amniotic liquid and the fetus's tissues to determine if there are signs of birth defect. These tests are crucial in finding out the causes of birth defects. They also aid in determining how serious the birth defect could be and the consequences it could be having on a child's the years to come.

Some birth defects might not be detected at the time of birth or, in some rare cases even after becoming an adult. These conditions aren't easily detected until they are present, and often can only be diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. For these kinds of cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness involved is familiar with these techniques and has the appropriate knowledge to detect these flaws. A seasoned medical malpractice lawyer is able to determine the right expert for your particular case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When a child is born with a serious birth defect attorney defect or suffers a serious birth injury, it can completely turn a family's lives upside down. These injuries can lead to lasting physical and mental health challenges needing medical attention for the rest of their lives.

Although medical science has been able to identify the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects, others remain a mystery. Research has revealed that certain chemicals and substances may cause birth defects, for example those found in prescription or over-the-counter medication that mothers take, the toxic chemicals at working in some communities and homes, as well as contaminated groundwater and air.

Doctors are required by law to analyze the medication used by the mother-to-be and inform her of any potential dangers to the fetus. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they could be held accountable for birth defects caused by medication.

Doctors also have the responsibility to evaluate the safety of any procedure or device they recommend for pregnant women. This includes xray machines, surgical tools, and other equipment. It could be a serious risk for a baby in the event that a physician uses the equipment improperly or does not calibrate it correctly. This is a case of malpractice. In the event of this it's crucial to seek out a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can. In some states you have only one year to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice therefore it's best to start the process as soon as you can.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one out of 33 babies born each year, and are a major reason for infant death. The condition are life-threatening and cause a myriad of mental, emotional and physical issues. In a few instances, scientists have linked the causes to a mother's exposure to prescription or over-the-counter medicines, toxins that are found in the environment or in the maternal environment, as well as complications of pregnancy and delivery, or family medical history (like genetic diseases like sickle cell diseases or PKU). But in about 70% of all birth defects the cause is not known.

Certain birth defects are readily visible and can be detected either at birth or during the first year. Certain birth defects, such as heart defects or developmental and intellectual disabilities, require specific tests to determine the cause.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. For example smoking or drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of having a baby with certain defects. Women with a family history of inherited genetic disorders should consult a genetic counselor prior to trying to get pregnant. They may also use the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data on medical conditions that run through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.