Why No One Cares About Birth Defect Attorney

What Causes a Birth Defect?

It's the last thing that an expecting parents wants to hear: their child could be born with a birth defect. These birth defects are caused by things that happen during fetal development and can affect your child's mental or physical health.

A health care provider can diagnose some birth defects during pregnancy with prenatal tests or newborn screening. However, other birth defects may not be identified until after your child's birth or a few years later when they show symptoms.

What was the cause of your child's error?

The cause of many birth defect lawyers defects remains unknown. There are certain factors that increase the chance of pregnant women having children with a birth defect. These include taking prescription drugs or taking certain medications prior to pregnancy, having a family member that has birth defects or certain medical conditions, like rheumatic heart disease. Women with a history of these disorders should speak with a genetic counselor about their options prior to becoming pregnant.

The degree to which a birth defect causes serious problems or not will depend on which body part is affected and the extent of the body part affected. The more severe a birth defect, the more severe the problems.

Most birth defects are caused by genes or the environment during the development of the fetus. The chance of developing birth defects is reduced by knowing about your family's history of health and genetic issues and speaking with an expert in genetic counseling and following the guidelines for prenatal care.

Structural defects are birth issues that affect how an area of your body appears or functions. They may be visible such as cleft lips and Cleft palettes, but also invisible, such as chromosome disorders or Birth Defects metabolic disorders. Genetically-inherited conditions can result in structural birth defects. Environmental factors, like an absence of folic acid can cause neural tube defects that cause the development of the spinal or brain not functioning as it should.

Find More Evidence than You Think

There are a variety of medical procedures pregnant mothers may undergo to find out more about the possibility of birth defects. Amniocentesis is a prime example, where a doctor collects a small sample of fluid from the fetus for testing. This test could reveal chromosomal anomalies and other health conditions such as infections (such as Zika or rubella) or genetic anomalies.

A doctor can also examine the blood of a fetus, amniotic fluid and even the umbilical cord for signs of birth defects. These tests are essential in finding out the reason for birth defects. They also aid in determining the severity of a birth defect could be and the consequences it could have on a child in the years to come.

However, some birth defects can be missed until a baby is born or, in rare cases, as an adult. This is because the problems are not easily identified until they become apparent, and are often diagnosed using diagnostic equipment. In these cases, it is crucial that the medical expert witness is knowledgeable about these technologies and has the appropriate knowledge to recognize these defects. An experienced medical malpractice attorney should be able to identify the appropriate specialist for your case.

Hire a Medical Malpractice Attorney

A child born with a serious defect or a severe birth injury can alter the life of a family. These injuries can cause long-term physical and mental issues and require medical treatment for the rest of their lives.

Medical science can pinpoint the underlying causes behind about 30 percent of birth defects others remain unexplained. Studies have shown that certain chemicals and substances can cause birth defects, for example those present in prescription or over the counter medications a mother takes, the toxic chemicals at working in some communities and homes, or contaminated air and groundwater.

Doctors have a duty to assess an expectant mother's current medications, and advise her about any dangers for the foetus. If they fail to fulfill this duty, they may be held responsible for birth defects that are caused by medications.

Doctors are also required to determine the safety and efficacy of any procedure or device they recommend to pregnant women. This includes x-ray equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment. If a physician is negligent when using the equipment, or fails to properly calibrate the equipment, it could cause serious consequences for the baby. This would be considered medical malpractice. In the event of this it's crucial to consult a medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In some states you have only one year to file a complaint for medical malpractice and it's recommended to start the process as soon as possible.

Start with the First Step

Birth defects affect one of 33 babies born each year, and are a major reason for infant death. These conditions can be life-threatening, and they can cause long-term physical, cognitive and emotional difficulties. Scientists have in a few cases connected the causes of birth defects in mothers' exposure to prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as environmental toxins, maternal infections, complications during the birth and pregnancy and family medical history or genetic illnesses (like sickle cell disease PKU, also known as genetic illnesses). However, in a majority of birth defects cases the cause is not known.

Some birth defects, like hearing loss or clubfoot are easy to spot and are easily diagnosed from birth or within the first year of a child's existence. Other birth defects, such as heart defects or intellectual and developmental disabilities aren't as easily identified and require tests of a different kind.

Researchers are attempting to determine what causes birth defects and how them may be prevented. For instance women who smoke and drink alcohol or consume illegal drugs during pregnancy increase their risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. Women with an inherited family history of genetic disorders should seek out a genetic counselor before trying to get pregnant. They should also utilize the March of Dimes Family Health History form to collect data regarding medical conditions that are prevalent through their families. This information should be shared with their doctor or genetic counselor.