A Intermediate Guide To Birth Defect Litigation

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth defect attorney it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file claim for compensation for the expenses of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to follow a standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. If the actions of a doctor are in violation of this standard and cause birth defect or injury and/or death, they may be held liable for the damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect Lawsuits; migration-bt4.co.uk, can help you determine if your child's condition may be the result of a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be accountable for birth injuries if they fail to recognize or properly respond to distress in the fetus. This can cause a number of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in that they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery or labor. These injuries can be caused by ailments like Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during the birth process and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to review your case and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are the result of genetics and factors during the pregnancy of a mother but they can also happen as a result of medications. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is especially evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These medications have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for not adequately informing mothers of the dangers associated with their products. 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 pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can help families get compensation for current and future medical expenses resulting from the injury or disability, and also loss of earnings and the quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. They are referred to as teratogens because they affect the growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in many different situations, such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to expose companies to liability for the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have won substantial settlements on behalf of families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemical. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be the result of 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 if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. 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 found in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated may cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health issues. Industrial solvents such as benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects among women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

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