Birth Defects and Medical Malpractice

Every four and half minutes, a baby in the United States is born with an anomaly in the birth process. These defects can alter the lives of those who are affected for the rest of their lives.

Differences in how cases are classified and identified can lead to over- or under-ascertainment of certain types of birth defects. A well-designed system can include active case ascertainment, which includes medical record abstraction as well as a clinical review as well as passive reporting.

Causes

A baby born with an injury or defect may have long-term health consequences. Birth defects can be caused by medical negligence or a mistake of a doctor during pregnancy.

In some cases, birth defects can be avoided by taking care of prenatal care and a proper nutrition. In other instances they may be the result of environmental factors like exposure to dangerous chemicals or toxic substances. Birth defects can also be caused by complications that happen during pregnancy, including constriction of the uterus, rupture of the amniotic sac, or the lack of oxygen to the fetus (also called anoxic brain injury).

Certain birth defects result from genetic disorders that run in families. They can be detected through an ultrasound test or a blood test. Some of these illnesses can be treated or prevented with the help of a specialist, such as PKU sickle cell disease, and cleft lip and cleft palate. Other birth defects have no known cause and are referred to as congenital disorders or congenital anomalies.

Women over 30 and who belong to certain ethnicities are at an increased risk of developing certain birth defects. Couples with a similar family history of genetic disorders might want to consult an expert in genetics prior to trying to become pregnant. This will help them determine if further testing is needed. Screening tests for newborns can be used to identify certain conditions, such as critical congenital defects, and certain infections that could be treated right away.

Diagnosis

A birth defect is an abnormal growth that can affect any part of the body which can affect the way organs function or the structure of the body. Birth defects are often detected by a medical professional during the pregnancy process, at birth, or even in the early years of childhood. Some Birth defect lawyer defects are visible like cleft lips or craniofacial abnormalities and others are not as evident, such as congenital heart disease and biliary atresia (an obstruction of the duct carrying the bile into the liver).

Many birth defects can be detected through newborn screening tests which are designed to detect certain health problems. These include PKU, congenital hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease. Newborn screening also checks for certain genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. A healthcare provider can diagnose certain birth defects using ultrasounds during pregnancy and blood tests, based on the type of defect.

It's not always certain what caused birth defects, but it is often associated with environmental factors. This can be due to exposure to prescription or non-prescription medications, chemical substances that can contaminate water and air in communities or a problem during pregnancy or delivery. Other times birth defects could be caused by a medical professional not taking the proper steps to prevent or treat a recognized medical problem. In these cases, medical malpractice claims may be pursued.

Treatment

Treatment options for a birth defect vary depending on the severity and type of birth defect. Certain birth defects can be fixed before the baby is born. Others might require medical or surgical intervention after the baby is born.

A few of the most common problems are the chromosomal. They are caused by extra or missing genes within cells of a person. These are often inherited from parents. These include cleft lips as well as neural tube defects and heart problems. These birth defects are caused by issues with the development of the baby's organs particularly during the first three months of pregnancy.

Screening tests for birth defects can be done during pregnancy, after a person is born, or later on in life when the first signs begin to show. The tests can be conducted via ultrasounds or blood tests. One can also take an genetic test for birth defects to see whether they are predisposed to a certain condition.

It is not always simple to avoid birth defects. Certain birth defects result from complications that happen during pregnancy, whereas others can be traced back to environmental factors. birth defect law firms defects can be caused by consumption of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs during pregnancy. Some birth defects are related to chemicals that are found in the surrounding environment, including pesticides and herbicides, such as Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

Compensation

Despite the latest advances in medicine, birth injuries and defects persist as a tragic fact. Fortunately most birth defects can be avoided. If you have a child that has an anomaly in the birth process that could have been caused by the negligence of medical professionals, it is essential to consult an skilled lawyer as soon as possible. A compassionate and knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer can help you comprehend your legal options and pursue compensation to cover your family's expenses and losses.

Our team of highly skilled birth defect lawyers have years of experience dealing with cases involving wrongful births. We are a firm that is plaintiffs-only and take pride in the quality of service we offer our clients. We'll take away the burden so that you can concentrate on your child, you and your entire family.

We can help you pursue compensation for losses, including past and future medical expenses as well as loss of income, punitive damages when necessary, and emotional distress. Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate the case and work diligently to ensure that your family gets the best possible result.

Drug manufacturers are expected to thoroughly test their products before putting them on market and to warn consumers of potential side effects. If your child's birth defect was caused by a drug, you could start a lawsuit based on product liability with the help of a birth defects drug lawyer.