Three Greatest Moments In Birth Defect Litigation History

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects may be able to help you claim reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects may be complex, so you should seek legal counsel as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's health condition may be due to an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or the birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is called caput succedaneum. It's swelling of the scalp. Both of them can cause lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can offer a free consultation to review your case, and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to help parents determine the reason behind the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects result from birth defects or genetics. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most popular. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and brain defects, heart defects, and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medications. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the injury or disability, as well as loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawsuits defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result 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 file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or create organs to be malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety situations, such as metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families that had children born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals can be harmful to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause various birth defects and health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, which are used in the manufacture of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays are recognized to increase a woman's chance of having birth defects.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a myriad of birth defects as a result of unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits typically require sophisticated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine experts, and embryologists.