Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Legal Team

Finding out that your child is suffering from an abnormal birth defect is one of the most frightening and confusing experiences you'll ever be faced with. Contacting a legal team for birth defects with experience is important immediately.

A lawyer can explain the cause of a birth defect and how to file a lawsuit in order to claim damages for your child.

Causes of Birth Defects

Birth defects are structural changes that affect how the body looks or works. They can happen at any point during pregnancy, but they typically happen in the first three months. Some are visible, and others can only be identified by a medical professional. They can range in severity from mild to severe.

The majority of birth defects result from genetic disorders. These occur when a gene alters (mutates) or is not present completely. Most genes are passed from parents to children, but some originate from the environment. The environmental factors include drinking alcohol, smoking or taking certain medications during pregnancy. Exposure to harmful chemicals can increase the risk of having a birth defect.

There is no cure for the majority of birth defects, however there are treatments that can assist with certain problems. These can include surgery, medications, and special home treatment. Some birth defects, like Cleft lip and palate, as well as spina Bifida, can be treated by surgery. Medicines can be used to treat other conditions, such as Tay-Sachs and patent ductus artery.

Women who drink alcohol, smoke or both during pregnancy are at an increased risk of having children born with birth defects. Women with a history of birth defects in their families are also at a higher risk. It is crucial to discuss with your doctor the possibility of having a child with a birth deformity.

Medical Malpractice

In many cases, birth defects are caused by medical negligence during pregnancy and birth. A New York birth defects lawyer can help parents file a malpractice lawsuit against the medical doctor or other professionals who caused the child's condition.

For instance, a doctor may have negligently prescribed medication to the mother during her pregnancy, which increased the risk of the child being born with a specific defect. If the child has an extreme mental impairment due to the medication, they are eligible to be eligible for government assistance to help those with disabilities.

The medical professional or hospital also may not have detected a birth defect that was known to the mother during fetal screening. If the doctor did not do the testing or discuss the results with parents and the parents, they could be held accountable for wrongful birth claims.

Midwives, medical facilities, and health professionals are required to divulge and report medical records relating to birth defects. This information can be used for monitoring birth defects activities as well as to detect trends, clusters, and possible causes. The information cannot be divulged to any other individual or to the general public unless it is permitted by applicable laws, regulations, and HIPAA. These regulations may differ based on the jurisdiction. The information is only used for approved purposes by the department of the state. In addition, all employees who are involved in the monitoring of birth defects must sign a confidentiality agreement and be educated on how to handle confidential information.

Prescription Drugs

The risks of certain birth defects can be detected prior to the birth of a child via prenatal ultrasounds, blood tests and amniocentesis (obtaining the sample of amniotic fluid from the fetus). Women with higher-risk pregnancies can be given more detailed screening options due to a family history or advanced maternal age.

A variety of over-the-counter as well as prescription medications can have severe side effects when taken by women who are pregnant. Pharmaceutical companies and those who prescribe these medications are under obligations to inform physicians of the dangers, and when they fail to do so, they can be held responsible for any resulting birth injuries.

Hospital, medical and pharmaceutical expenses can pile quickly because of a birth defect, especially severe ones that require continuous treatment and care. It is important to collect all receipts and bills and credit card information, and other evidence that proves your damage and entitlement to compensation.

The majority of birth defects are detected when the baby is born or shortly after, and some can be fixed with surgery. Some birth defects are permanent and affect the person for the rest of their lives which can cause severe disabilities and limitations. A birth defect lawyer who is experienced and compassionate can assist families receive the settlement they deserve. If you suspect that your child was born with an anomaly in the birth it is important to start a claim prior to the statute of limitations expires.

Environmental Exposure

Birth problems can be caused by many environmental causes. This can include prescription or over the counter medications in addition to exposure to chemicals at work or at home. Sometimes, the cause is difficult to determine. When a lot of babies with the same defect are born within a specific time period and location, this is known as a birth defect "cluster".

If there's any suspicion that the birth injury or defect was caused by medical negligence A medical malpractice lawyer should be sought out. A knowledgeable and empathetic medical malpractice lawyer can help families get the amount of compensation they are entitled to so that their child's birth defect or birth defect attorneys injury will not have lifelong negative effects.

Many states have laws requiring the monitoring of birth defects. This involves the collection of information from the hospital discharge records. The information is then used to identify anomalies, trends and potential clusters.

This information can be collected and shared via different programs like: