Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for your family as well as you. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing an appeal to receive reimbursement for the costs of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, which is why you should seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their babies. If a doctor's actions do not meet the standards and result in birth defects or injuries and/or death, they may be held liable for the harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can help determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be accountable for birth injuries if they fail to diagnose or appropriately respond to distress in the fetus. This can cause various serious problems, including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. The causes of injuries include ailments like Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control the infant's arms are stretched or torn during the birth process and the caput succedaneum is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will provide a free consultation to review your case, and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to help parents determine the reason behind an infant's birth injury. Many birth defects result from genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a significant effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most commonly used. These medications have been linked to an increased chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's responsibility is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. When doctors fail to meet the standards of care required, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can help a family get compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may sue parents of children with congenital disabilities as a result of the negligence of businesses exposing pregnant women to chemicals and medications that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the cause of birth defects so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens, because they can interfere with the normal development of a fetus through chemical changes that lead to abnormal organs or prevent normal cell function. These chemicals can be used in a variety of situations, such as processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number of companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawsuit defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements on behalf of 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 the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. 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 and/or environmental factors, they should talk to an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens is the name given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some are harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, could cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents, such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a wide range of birth defects resulting from the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits require complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.