A Birth Defect Lawyer Can Help Your Family Achieve Justice

A child's birth defect can profoundly alter the way your family lives. If a doctor committed error during your pregnancy and your child's condition was a result, you need to respond quickly.

A skilled lawyer for birth injuries can assist you in filing an action against those who are responsible. In the meantime, begin gathering bills, receipts and credit card statements.

Causes of Birth Defects

Birth defects can have a variety of causes. However, some are due to genetic issues, in which genes don't work properly or are missing completely (like Turner syndrome and Down syndrome). They can also be caused by chromosomal problems, where chromosomes have too many or have too few cells.

The majority of these problems are diagnosed in utero using ultrasound or amniocentesis. A sample of amniotic liquid is taken and analyzed to determine genetic and chromosomal variations. In some cases doctors, however, don't detect the birth defect until a baby is born or displays symptoms, like having an extra finger, cleft lip, or club foot.

Aside from genetic and chromosomal issues birth defect attorney defects can also be caused by problems with the nervous system or brain, and musculoskeletal issues which affect joints, muscles and bones. They can be moderate to severe and affect how a person looks or functions, including physical strength, learning capabilities and mobility.

While some birth defects can't be avoided, a few can be prevented. Couples with an inheritance history of certain diseases should consider testing their genetics before attempting to have children. In addition, avoiding exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, infections and other environmental factors can reduce the chance of certain birth defects. Medical malpractice or negligence in the treatment of a woman who is pregnant can also contribute to birth defects, so it's essential to consult a birth defect lawyer when you suspect that a medical error could have contributed to the child's condition.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects cases involving medical negligence are typically complex and require expert testimony. A skilled and empathetic medical malpractice lawyer can help your family to get justice and secure the compensation you need to ensure that your child is able to lead a normal life.

To determine whether you have a medical malpractice case Your attorney will begin by identifying your child's birth defect before linking it to the medical professionals involved in the child's birth. Your attorney will also need know the date that the birth defect of your child was identified. This information is important because it will allow you to know how long you'll need to make a claim before the statute of limitations expires.

It is also important that your attorney has access to your medical records and any other documents you might have that are related to the birth defect of your child for example, receipts, bills and credit card transactions. This evidence will help your attorney prove the severity of your child's injuries and determine what types of compensation you are entitled to receive.

Birth defects can be triggered in a variety of ways, including medical conditions or genetics exposure to illness and infections, as well as exposure to drugs or chemicals. However, the majority of birth defects are not caused by medical malpractice or any other form of negligence. A medical malpractice claim is only valid if a doctor does not fulfill his or her duty to care and this negligence causes a birth injury.

Drugs

Birth defects are the result of abnormalities that can develop in a child's body when it is born or during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control explains that these conditions can affect any part of the body of the baby and vary from mild to life threatening.

These ailments are usually the result of the mother's lifestyle or genetics. However, in other cases medical negligence could be the cause of the child's condition. A Hyattsville birth defects lawyer can assist parents to determine the root of their child's illness, and then take legal actions.

Drugs can cause serious birth defects. These substances are known as Teratogens. They include prescription drugs and illicit street drugs. Thalidomide for instance, was a time when it was a popular sleep aid and pregnancy anti-nausea medication but was later discovered to be one of the most devastating birth defects linked to drugs in the history of medicine. It caused limb reduction defects as well as mental and physical impairments.

Doctors have a duty of care to take into consideration the dangers associated with certain medication they prescribe to pregnant women. They are committing malpractice if they fail to do this. Pharmacies and pharmaceutical firms have the obligation to inform women about the dangers of using their products.

Toxic Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in utero. These chemicals can be found in the drugs pregnant women take as well as in the environmental pollutants in the home or at work or even in harmful chemical agents in a workplace. These chemicals, often referred to as teratogens, can cause serious birth defects such as spina bifida. They may also cause the development of skeletal disorders, delays in development, brain damage and muscular dystrophy.

Certain toxins like arsenic, cadmium, and arsenic can be found in drinking waters and soil. Lead is a frequent chemical that is found in paints for houses artwork materials plastics, cosmetics, and other materials. Other toxins include pharmaceuticals including selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) that have been found to increase the risk of birth defects.

A lawyer who is specialized in birth defect claims can assist parents in determining if an ingredient or a chemical was the cause for their child's birth injury. In these cases our lawyers can pursue a product liability claim against the chemical or drug manufacturer that created and manufactured the dangerous medication. Or, we could bring a lawsuit against doctors who prescribe drugs identified to have harmful side effects on pregnant women.