Five Things Everybody Gets Wrong About Birth Defect Attorneys

Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

The discovery that your child is suffering from an abnormal birth defect can transform what was supposed to be an exciting time into an anxious and uncertain one. It is important to contact an experienced medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon as you can.

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

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or errors that occur during pregnancy are responsible for numerous birth defects. Certain of these problems are more severe than others, however any birth defect or injury can be devastating for the child and their family members. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if a doctor made 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 performed and correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information could allow them to choose to terminate the pregnancy or at least prepare for the child's birth and treatment. If the doctor fails to perform or interpret these tests or fails to notify the parents of the results, this could be deemed medical negligence.

Medical treatments for birth defect are typically expensive. They may require surgery, specialists, medications speech and physical therapy, as well as assistive devices. The money awarded in a wrongful birth lawsuit can assist in easing the financial burden that is related to these costs making it easier for families to get the treatment their child needs. Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely complex and time-sensitive, so it's crucial to engage an experienced lawyer as soon as you can.

Prescription Drugs

Despite recent advances in medicine and the latest technology, birth injuries and defects are possible. Birth injuries and birth defects can be severe or mild, and they often require life-long medical care. In some instances, they even cause death. A Boston dangerous drug lawyer can help parents obtain compensation for their child's present and future medical costs, including hospital procedures as well as doctor's visits, rehabilitation services, assistive devices and more.

A doctor could be guilty of medical error if they prescribe medication to a pregnant woman that increases her child's risk of being born with a birth defect. They have a responsibility to be aware of what medications affect the development of the fetus, and not prescribe drugs harmful to the foetus.

Teratogens are prescription medication that increase the chance of a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medication such as Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has issued warnings about the use of these medicines in pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk of Cleft lips, cleft palates and lung, heart and other brain disorders. They also increase the risk of miscarriage for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Parents can sue their doctors, the makers of the drugs, and the pharmacists who prescribed the medications for failing to warn them about their risks.

Toxic Chemicals

When a baby is born with a birth defect the parents often wonder what the cause is. The truth is that several factors can lead to a birth defect, from the effects of medications to exposure to toxic chemicals during utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect. These issues could be minor or serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. Most of the time a birth defect occurs as a result of faulty genetics. However, a substantial portion of birth defects are the result of exposure to chemicals or environmental elements that occurs during the womb. These are known as teratogens and they increase the risk of functional or structural defects that are not reverseable in offspring.

Many people in the United States are exposed to industrial chemicals every single day. The list of potentially harmful chemical is long, 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 typical for companies not to warn their customers about the dangers that could be posed by these chemicals. The birth defect lawyers at LK can assist families in fighting against corporations that put profits ahead of the safety and health of their employees and their children.

Environmental Exposure

Having a child with a birth defect can be incredibly distressing for parents as they will require medical attention throughout the lifetime of their infant. Some birth defects can cause physical and mental disabilities in the baby for life depending on the degree of the defect.

Some birth defects cannot be avoided due to genetics. However, environmental or chemical exposure can trigger a variety of other. These include prescription medications and law toxic chemicals that the mother may ingest, or chemical substances that have been found to be contaminated in air or groundwater.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can be filed against businesses or individuals that are accountable for the injury suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes medication that increases your child's risk of birth defect, they could be held responsible.

The same goes for business owners or individuals who expose workers to dangerous chemicals and other substances. Many studies have shown that exposure to pesticides, fungicides and lead, as well as metals and paints could increase the chances of having a child who has certain types of birth defects. This is why lawsuits have been filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and paint factories because of their role in the development of serious birth defects in children. Web-based integrated birth defect surveillance in 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.