10 Things We All Hate About Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth this can cause a huge impact on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects may be able to help you seek compensation to cover the costs of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor could be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits for birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's health condition may be due to an error in medical care during pregnancy or during delivery.

A doctor may also be accountable for a birth injury when they fail to recognize or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This could lead to numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy like cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. Injuries can result from conditions like Erb's Palsy, which occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control an infant's arms are stretched or ruptured during birth and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both of these conditions can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defect law firm defects will offer a free consultation to look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may help parents determine the root cause of a child's birth defect. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A variety of common medications can have a profound effect on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the duty of a doctor to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers of the risks that come with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during the first trimester of pregnancies.

A birth defect attorney can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to find out what caused the birth defect so that they can file a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens while they work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they affect the development of a healthy the fetus via chemical changes that can cause abnormal organs, or disrupt normal cell function. These chemicals are present in diverse settings like the manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, including 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 secured substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water Some of them could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects can also be associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to manufacture semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers (click here to find out more) have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from a myriad of birth defects due to the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits often involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as expert witnesses, including toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.