Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating impact on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly become a burden.

A Hyattsville lawyer that specializes in birth defects could help you file for compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, so you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to a set of standards when treating pregnant women or their babies. A doctor could be held accountable for any damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining if your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can cause a number of serious issues, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are triggered by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - an inflammation of the scalp. Both can result in permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the most appropriate option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence the pregnancy of a mother however, they can also be caused as a result of medications. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy medications are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

The duty of a doctor 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 malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies could be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers about the risks associated with their medicines. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was shown to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist 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 could include hospital, doctor's or pharmaceutical costs, in addition to aidive devices and treatments.

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 to chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of birth defects, so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus through producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or cause malformed organs. These chemicals are used in various settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during 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 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

Some birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child 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 attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens is the name given to these chemicals. Over 4 million chemicals exist in our air, food and water, and some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium from coal that is contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects can also be caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser) and toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, which are used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chances of having birth defects too.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed numerous lawsuits in behalf of children who suffered from many birth defects due to an unintentional exposure to chemicals or toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits usually involve a sophisticated scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.