Pay Attention: Watch Out For How Birth Defect Litigation Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect it can have a devastating effect on the entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects could assist you claim reimbursement for the expenses of caring for your children with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held responsible for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's condition could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

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

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or the birth. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the baby's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - a swelling on the scalp. Both of them can result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best method of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents identify the cause of the child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and factors during the pregnancy of a mother but they can also happen due to medications. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on fetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of limb defects and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they may be liable for medical negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help family members receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses associated with the disability or injury and also loss of earnings and quality of life. This can include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities because of the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the cause of the birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are used in many different settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who had their children born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by an unintended medical error and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause serious birth defects when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are known as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Some of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger a variety of birth defects, as well as other health problems. Certain birth defect attorneys defects can also be related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a range of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits often involve sophisticated scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine experts and embryologists.