Birth Defect Litigation: A Simple Definition

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect law firms defect this can have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly mount up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an appeal to receive compensation for the cost of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defect attorney defects are a bit nebulous, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor can be held liable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits will help you determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or birth. Injuries can result from conditions such as Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves that energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or damaged during birth and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both can lead to a lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to examine your case and determine the most appropriate way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents determine the reason for the birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and other factors that occur during the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medication. A number of commonly used medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is a doctor's professional duty to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer (This Web-site) can help families receive compensation for future and current medical expenses associated with the injury or disability, as well as loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to determine the reason for birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens because they influence the healthy development of a embryo through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or hinder normal cell function. These chemicals can be found in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects that a child's birth defects may be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical such as benzene, they should seek out an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are consumed or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water and a few could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water and cadmium in coal that is contaminated may cause numerous birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are well-known to increase the risk of birth defects too.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a variety of birth defects resulting from improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits usually involve a complex scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts and embryologists.