Why It Is Important to Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

When you discover that your child was born with a birth defect, what should be an exciting moment could quickly become one of worry and anxiety. Contact an attorney for medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer as soon a time as is feasible.

You'll need to collect bills receipts, receipts, credit card payments and other evidence of your losses in order to be able to claim full compensation for your damages. We have successfully represented families in court cases against large electronics companies and agricultural pesticide companies as well as commercial growers.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice or errors that occur during pregnancy can be the cause of many birth defects. Some of these issues are more severe than others, however all birth injuries or defects can be devastating for the baby and their loved ones. A medical malpractice lawyer can determine if the doctor committed an error that led to the defect or injury.

Doctors can identify birth defects by conducting screening tests during pregnancy. These tests can be carried out and correctly to inform parents about the possibility that their child may have a birth defect. This information could allow them to choose to terminate the pregnancy, or at least prepare for the child's birth defect law firms (click here for more info) and treatment. If the doctor is unable to perform or interpret these tests or fails to inform parents of the results, it could be deemed medical negligence.

Birth defects and medical treatments are typically expensive. The treatments may include procedures, specialists, medications, physical and speech therapies and assistive equipment. The amount of compensation awarded by a wrongful birth lawsuit could assist in easing the financial burden that is caused by these expenses making it easier for families to get the treatment their child requires. Medical malpractice claims can be complicated and time-sensitive. It is therefore essential to get a skilled attorney immediately.

Prescription Drugs

Despite recent advances in medicine and modern technology birth defects and injuries are still possible. Mild or severe birth defects and injuries typically require a lifetime of medical care. In some instances they can cause death. A Boston lawyer who is knowledgeable about dangerous drugs will help parents obtain compensation to cover their child's medical expenses in the present and in the future, including hospitalizations and doctor's appointments, rehabilitation services, assistive equipment and more.

If a doctor prescribes a medication to a pregnant mother that increases the chances of her child's developing a birth defect they could be guilty for medical malpractice. They have a responsibility to be aware of which medications may negatively affect the growth of the fetus and not prescribe drugs harmful to the baby's fetus.

Teratogens are prescription medication which increase the likelihood of having a birth defect. They include anti-seizure medicines like Dilantin, Lamictal, Tegretol and Topamax. The FDA has advised against taking these medications during pregnancy. These drugs can increase the risk of having cleft palates, cleft lips and lung, heart and other brain disorders. These medications also pose a chance of miscarriage in women who are breastfeeding or pregnant. Parents can sue doctors, the makers of the drugs as well as the pharmacists who prescribed the drugs for failing to warn them of the risks.

Toxic Chemicals

When a child is born with a birth defect, the parents often wonder what the cause is. The truth is that a number of different factors can cause birth defects, ranging from medication side effects to toxic chemical exposure in utero.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. These birth defects could be minor or serious, and sometimes even life-threatening. The majority of the time, a birth defect occurs as a result of genetic abnormalities. However, a significant portion of birth defects are the result of exposure to chemicals or environmental elements that happens in the womb. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens and increase the risk of irreparable functional or structural problems in offspring.

Many Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals on a daily basis. From semiconductor and technology factories with clean rooms, to pesticides in nurseries and farms and plastics, automobiles and paint manufacturing plants The list of harmful chemicals is long.

A lot of the time, companies that make these chemicals fail to properly test them for their potential effects on humans, and it's not uncommon to see them fail to include adequate warnings in their products and services. The team of birth defect attorneys at LK can help families fight against corporations that place profits before the health and safety of their employees and their children.

Environmental Exposure

A child born with an anomaly in the birth process can be extremely stressful for parents, as it requires medical attention throughout the child's life. Depending on the severity the issue, some birth defects can cause life-long physical and mental disabilities for the infant.

While some birth defects are unavoidable due to genetics, many others can be triggered by exposure to chemicals or environmental elements during pregnancy. These can include prescription drugs or toxic chemicals that may be ingested by the mother, or even from chemical substances that have been able to pollute the air or groundwater in the community.

Apart from medical malpractice, birth defect lawsuits can also be filed against companies or individuals that are liable for the injury suffered by the child. If a doctor prescribes a medication that increases the risk of birth defect, then they could be held accountable.

It is also true for people or businesses who expose their workers to harmful chemicals and other substances. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to pesticides and fungicides, as well as metals, paints, and lead can increase the likelihood of the child developing certain kinds of birth defect. In order to combat this issue there were lawsuits filed against beauty salons and metal cleaning facilities as well as semiconductor manufacturing facilities and painting factories. The development of a Web-based integrated Birth Defects Surveillance System for New York State. Wang, Y., Tao, Z., Steen, P.M., Cross, P.K., Druschel, C.M. and Hwang, S-A. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 14(6): E1-E10. 2008.