Birth Defect Litigation Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the Birth Defect lawsuit it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville lawyer with a specialization in birth defects could help to file a claim for compensation to cover the costs of caring for your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has expertise in lawsuits involving birth defects can assist you in determining whether your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or appropriately respond to distress of the fetus. This could lead to a variety of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy, or delivery. These injuries can be caused by conditions such as Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that power and control the arms of an infant are stretched or ruptured during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation in order to review your case, and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able help parents determine the cause for an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are due to genetics and factors during a mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medication. Many commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly applicable in the early months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most common. These medications have been linked to an increased risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostosis.

The duty of a doctor is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the risks associated with their medicines. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea among cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family receive compensation for current and future medical expenses associated with the disability or injury in addition to loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and birth defect lawsuit other expenses, as well assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of companies which 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 bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as teratogens because they affect the development of the fetus through producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be present in a variety environments, including processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other hazardous chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies that were involved in exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have secured significant settlements for families that had children born with severe birth defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family believes the birth defect in their child could be a result of medical negligence, prescription drug abuse or birth defect lawsuit exposure to harmful chemicals, they should talk to an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or taken in by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals are harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic found in drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, may cause vista birth defect lawyer defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents like benzene toluene and trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser) are also linked with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are utilized in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are recognized to increase a woman's risk of birth defects too.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a wide range of birth defects due to wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses like toxicologists and epidemiologists.